Family Support and Psychological Needs of Children with Thalassemia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iraq

Objective: This study aimed to assess the psychological needs of children with thalassemia and examine differences in family psychological support based on parents’ sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from February 12 to March 15, 2025, at the Babylon Center for Genetic Diseases, Babylon Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children, Iraq. The study included 125 parents of children with thalassemia aged 5–22 years. Data were collected using a validated and modified questionnaire with two sections: sociodemographic data and psychological support items. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U test, and Kruskal–Wallis H test to assess group differences.

Findings: Most children were over 15 years old (44.0%), and the majority of parents were aged 40–49 (40.8%), female (61.6%), and had primary-level education (34.4%). Overall, 62.4% of parents provided a high level of psychological support. Key areas included expressions of love (68.8%), listening to feelings (70.4%), and offering encouragement (77.6%). Significant differences in psychological support were found based on parental gender (p=0.045), education level (p=0.029), and residence (p=0.017), with mothers, more educated parents, and urban residents providing greater support.

Conclusion: Family psychological support plays a crucial role in the emotional well-being of children with thalassemia. Socio-demographic factors significantly influence the level of support provided. Educational interventions targeting fathers, rural families, and those with low educational attainment are recommended to enhance psychological support for affected children.