[Mediterranean anemia in 124 Sicilian pregnant women]

The aim of this study was to verify knowledge of beta-thalassemia in a group of Sicilian puerpere.

The study was performed in a group of 124 pregnant women chosen at random from 2769 who gave birth in 1995 in the third trimester of pregnancy at the Specialised Maternity Hospital of Santo Bambino in Catania.

A total of 124 puerpere replied to the questionnaire out of 124 interviewed. Their age ranged from 15 to 46 years old; the most frequent age group was 20-35 years old (81 cases-65.4%). 69.3% (86 cases) were married, 5.6% (7 cases) were separated or divorced, 24.9% (31 cases) were single or living with partners. The level of education was mainly lower (39.6%-49 cases) and upper (26.6%-33 cases) secondary school; there were few cases of illiteracy (3.2%-4 cases). The women were predominantly workers (25%-31 cases), employees (37.1%-41 cases) and in 14.4% (18 cases) neither of the couple worked. 4% (5 cases) of women lived alone. 73.3% (91 cases) reported that they knew what Mediterranean anemia was, 85% (35 cases) had recently spoken about this pathology with their doctor, 57.2% (71 cases) with their gynecologist. 36.2% (45 cases) knew the meaning of hemoglobinophoresis. 25% (31 cases) replied in the affirmative to the question regarding the hemoglobinophoresis test, 28.5% (35 cases) were unable to answer and 46.7% (58 cases) replied negatively. 11.2% (14 cases) of the puerperae had been informed about this disease when they were under 20, 39.5% (49 cases) between 20 and 35 years old, and 0.80% (1 case) after 36 years old. 36.2% of those interviewed (45 cases) responded correctly to the question "when does a carrier of Mediterranean anemia risk producing children suffering from a severe blood pathology?".