Family Physician, 1991;3:24-27.

Abstract

We studied the knowledge, attitude and practice of 27 parents of children with Thalassaemia towards their children's disease. The parents' knowledge was satisfactory. Most of them did not reveal details of the disease to their affected children. Some of them had further children despite being explained the risk of recurrence. Parents found it difficult to obtain regular blood donors and some had to resort to 'buying' blood. The Malaysian Association of Thalassaemia has a role to play in the education of patients, their parents and the public.