The level of knowledge and awareness towards thalassemia disease among students in the Faculty of Business and Management at UiTM Puncak Alam

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder resulting in reduced hemoglobin production. Approximately 6.8% of Malaysians carry the thalassemia gene, leading to symptoms of anemia. It is crucial to raise awareness about thalassemia to prevent its inheritance by future generations and break the disease cycle. Thus, this study aimed to determine the student’s knowledge and awareness of thalassemia disease among the Faculty of Business and Management at UiTM Puncak Alam students. A crosssectional study was conducted in UiTM Puncak Alam among students in the Faculty of Business and Management. Data were collected using an anonymous online self-reported structured questionnaire that included sections on demographic information, knowledge, and awareness regarding thalassemia. This research reveals that students from the Faculty of Business and Management at UiTM Puncak Alam have poor knowledge of thalassemia disease. The mean value (4.86) proved that the knowledge assessment's total score towards thalassemia disease was not nearly half the total score (12.00). The respondents in this study had poor awareness, scoring an average of 10.77 out of 24 points on the awareness assessment. The study shows that the population has poor knowledge and awareness of thalassemia disease. The data revealed knowledge gaps and misconceptions about thalassemia, emphasizing the need for educational campaigns. Increased awareness correlates with higher knowledge scores, suggesting the importance of researching causal mechanisms. Targeted educational programs can improve thalassemia awareness and prevention, empowering informed decision-making. This leads to better patient outcomes and reduces the burden of genetic disorders.