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S12-19
(P)
SURVEY OF PARENTAL AWARENESS IN FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH
HYPOSPADIAS
Arbinder Kumar SINGAL
1
, Zarine GAZALI
2
, Rajkumar GUPTA
2
and Viral JAIN
3
1) Hypospadias Foundation & MITR Hospital, MGM Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Pediatric urology, Navi Mumbai, INDIA
- 2) Hypospadias Foundation & MITR Hospital, Pediatric urology, Navi Mumbai, INDIA - 3) MetroHealth, Case Western
Reserve University, Pediatrics, Cleveland, INDIA
PURPOSE
Inspite of hypospadias being a common urogenital anomaly, no surveys have assessed the knowledge level of parents
regarding the anomaly. The present study was conducted to understand the level of awareness about hypospadias in
families of children with hypospadias.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
125 families of children presenting to our clinic with hypospadias were offered a detailed questionnaire
RESULTS
114/ 125 (91%) families agreed for the study, 70 filled up the questionnaire in person, 36 via phone and 8 responded
via email. 71 % of the parents realized at birth that child had a genital anomaly while 29% learnt it later. This did not
correlate with the severity of hypospadias. When asked about primary long term concerns: 37 (32%) worried about
infertility, 31 (27%) - urinary issues, 24 (21%) - results of surgery, 17 (15%) - penile size and only 4 families worried
about perception in community. Concerns for community were less when mother was well educated (p=0.006) while it
did not correlate with fathers education (p=0.119). 52 (46%) families planned to tell their child between 15-20 years of
age, 35 (31%) between 10-15 years, 4 (3.5%) before ten years, 14 (12%) would never tell, 3 (2.5%) after 20 years, 4
were undecided and two children already knew. Primary source of information for 41 (36%) of families was internet,
pediatrician -28 (24.6%), family physician- 15 (13.2%), obstetrician- 13 (11.4%) and specialists in only 7 (6%).
CONCLUSIONS
Families with hypospadias struggle to understand hypospadias and its implications. A large percentage of these families
turn to internet for information. Concerted effort should be made to educate caregivers for children at all levels till
adulthood.