Jamras WongkhamMasinee PaiboolThawalwong RatanasiriWitoon Prasertcharoensuk2011-02-242011-02-242010-05-052010-05-05Srinagarind Medical Journal (SMJ); Vo. 12 No. 3 July - September 1997; 144-151http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/133697Background : Thalassemia is a hereditary anemia which is an important health problem of Thailand. About 30-40% of population are carriers while 1% of them are diseases. There were 1,000 thalassemia patients who received medical care at the out patient department of Srinagarind hospital per year. Screening pregnant women for thalassemia carriers or diseases and hemoglobinopathy is one method in controlling thalassemia.Objective : 1. To study the acceptance of screening for thalassemia in first trimester pregnant women. 2. To study the relation of demograpfic factors, history of preterm labor, family history of thalassemia, with screening acceptance and husbands’s acceptance of screenings and analytical.Design : Descriptive studySetting : Obstetric and Gynecology out patient department, Srinagarind Hospital.Subjects : The 299 first trimester pregnant women who had a first prenatal visit between 29 january and 31 July 1996 were chosen for the study.Measurements : Data was collected by questionnaires after the study group had received the information about thalassemia from brochures. The percentage, mean values and Chi-square or Fisher exact test were used for data analysis.Results : The first trimester pregnant women who accepted screening were 295 cases (98.7%). There were no factures that significantly affected acceptance. Of the 155 positive screening pregnant women, 124(80%) had their partner tested. The family income was the factor that affected partners’ acceptance.Conclusions : These results indicate that the acceptance of screening for thalassemia in the first trimester pregnant women including the acceptane of testing their partners when positive screening was high. This could be one of the effective methods in the thalassemia prevention program.en-USAcademic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, KhonKaen, ThailandAcceptane First Trimester prenatal Screening for Thalassemia at Srinagarind HospitalOriginal Articles