Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Major and Intermediate Patients with Thalassemia in West Bank: A Cross Sectional Study
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Date
2018-05-17
Authors
مدلل, شهناز
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
An-Najah National University
Abstract
Thalassemia is a condition that causes the human body to destroy red blood cells faster than they can be made. It affects physical aspects of Patients With Thalassemia ( PWT), thus causing them psychological problems such as depression. The aims of our study was to identify prevalence of depression disorders among intermediate and major PWT and to assess impact of some associated factors such as age, sex, health status, level of education, economic status and marital status. To these two ends, the researcher conducted quantitative descriptive cross- sectional study. Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess the level of depression among PWT. To administer the research instrument, 163 patients suffering from of intermediate and major thalassemia were conveniently chosen. After data collection and analysis, it was found that 55.2% of females and 44.8% of males were between 21 and 25. About ( 38.7%,58.3% )of them hailed from villages respectively. About 55.8% of the sample reported suffering from a severe level of depression as opposed to 22.7% who suffered from moderate depression. A significant correlation was found between some variables. The male patients were more prone to moderate and severe depression (p. value=0.014,0.05) respectively. Patients, who had a low monthly income of less than 1,500 shekels (p. value =0.02), had a low level of education (p value =0.02). There was also a significant correlation with place of living. There was, in addition, significant correlation between taking medications (tablets) and pump machine. However, no significant correlation was found between some variables as complication, the number of times of blood transfusions and others. In the light of these major findings, most PWT in the West Bank were suffering from severe depression in their life. Therefore, the health policymakers need to give serious attention to the needs of PWT in terms of psychological and emotional support.