The Effect of Parents’ Education on the Prevalence of Acute Leukemia in Children

Background: Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of parents’ education on the prevention of leukemia in children. Methods: This study was a survey performed in Mahak and Bahrami hospitals in 2019. Checklists were completed in two groups of parents, those who had a child with leukemia and those who had a healthy child. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Results: In this study, 365 individuals in the healthy group and 81 in the cancer group participated. More than sixty percent (62.3%) were females. The highest frequency of age in both groups was 31 - 40 years. The highest frequency of parents’ education in the healthy group was associate degree and bachelor (about 51%) and in the cancer group, lowers than associate degree (about 73%). There was a significant relationship between parents’ education and the prevalence of leukemia in children (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the study, parents’ higher education can be effective in preventing the development of leukemia in children.