Knowledge and Attitude Toward the Hemoglobinopathies Premarital Screening Program in Saudi Arabia: Population-Based Survey

Sulaiman, Ayman Al; Suliman, Ahmed; Mishari, May Al; Sawadi, Aziza Al; Owaidah, Tarek

doi:10.1080/03630260802508384

Cited by 51 publications

(54 citation statements)

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“…Even years after program implementation, the knowledge of premarital screening was good but not adequate 21–23. In the current report, the overall marriage cancellation among at-risk marriages was 26.5% and increased to more than 50% in 2009.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…In the current report, the overall marriage cancellation among at-risk marriages was 26.5% and increased to more than 50% in 2009. In a recent survey (2008), more than 60% of the participants were in favor of canceling at-risk marriages 23. However, in another study among 129 at-risk candidates identified in premarital screening, only 2% cancelled their marriage proposals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Six-year outcome of the national premarital screening and genetic counseling program for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia in Saudi Arabia

Memish

Saeedi

2011

Annals of Saudi Medicine

144

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Saudi Arabia has a high prevalence of hereditary hemoglobin disorders. Data has been collected by the Saudi Premarital Screening and Genetic Counseling Program on the prevalence of sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia but the outcomes were not quantified. We used six years of premarital screening data to estimate the burden of sickle disease and β-thalassemia over the program period and to assess the frequency of at-risk marriage detection and prevention.DESIGN AND SETTING:Retrospective review, premarital couples attending premarital and genetic counseling clinics with marriage proposals between 2004 and 2009.METHODS:Blood samples obtained from all couples with marriage proposals between 2004 and 2009 were tested for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. Test results were shared with all examinees and genetic counseling was offered for all at-risk couples. Marriage certificates were issued irrespective of the results and compliance with medical advice was voluntary.RESULTS:Out of all men and women examined, 70 962 (4.5%) and 29 006 (1.8%) were carriers or cases of sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia, respectively. While the prevalence of sickle cell disease was constant between 2004 and 2009 (average 45.1 per 1000 examined persons, P=.803), the prevalence of β-thalassemia steadily decreased from 32.9 to 9.0 per 1000 examined persons (P<.001). The frequency of at-risk couples decreased by about 60% between 2004 and 2009 (from 10.1 to 4.0 per 1000 examined persons, P<.001). The frequency of voluntary cancellation of marriage proposals among at-risk couples showed more than 5-fold increase between 2004 and 2009 (from 9.2% to 51.9%, P<.001). The eastern region had 58% of all detected at-risk marriages and showed the greatest decline in detection and increase in prevention over time compared to other regions of Saudi Arabia.CONCLUSION:Six years of premarital screening in Saudi Arabia markedly reduced the number of at-risk marriages, which may considerably reduce the genetic disease burden in Saudi Arabia in the next decades.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Six-year outcome of the national premarital screening and genetic counseling program for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia in Saudi Arabia

Memish

Saeedi

2011

Annals of Saudi Medicine

144

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“…Nowadays, premarital screening and counseling (PMSC) became compulsory by law in many Arab countries including Egypt. (1,2,3) Consanguineous marriage is still high in Egypt (35.3%) especially among first cousins (86%). However, the frequency varies by region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Knowledge and Attitude of Medical and Non-Medical Students at El Minia University Regarding Premarital Screening and Counseling

Mohamed¹

2015

AJNS

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Abstract:Background: Premarital screening is a worldwide activity that aims to diagnose and treat unrecognized disorders and reduce the transmission of diseases to couples and children, it is considered as the primary preventive approach for couples who planned for conception. Premarital counseling is offered to young couples on their way to marriage in order to guide, educate and prepare them for the establishment of a healthy family. Promotion and protection of adolescent females from reproductive health hazards are very essential because they are the future couples. Aim of the study: The aim of this study were to assess knowledge and attitude toward pre-marital screening and counseling among medical and non-medical female students at El Minia University and evaluating the effectiveness of educational program on improving the students' knowledge and attitude toward pre-marital screening and counseling. Subjects and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used. It was conducted at two medical and two non-medical faculties at El Minia University. A convenient sample of 500 students enrolled in the above mentioned settings was recruited. Results It can be observed that, there was a statistical significant improvement regarding total knowledge and attitude. The total knowledge score increased from 32.3% to 54.0% among medical students and from 21.0% to 41.0% among non-medical students and the difference is statistically significant. In addition, the positive attitude increased from 54.7% to 66.0% among medical students and from 49.0% to 57.5% among non-medical students. The difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Although there was an improvement in the level of knowledge for all students in both groups after health education but they still had insufficient knowledge about premarital screening and counseling. While more than one half from each group expressed favorable and positive attitude toward premarital screening and counseling. Recommendations: On the light of these findings, it is recommended to conduct health education services about premarital screening among high schools and university students at El Minia governorate to increase the population awareness and influence their attitudes toward Premarital screening and counseling services.

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“…However, high-risk communities exhibit a positive attitude for premarital screening and couple with an already affected child for prenatal diagnosis (Al Sulaiman et al 2008). In the present study, based on the application of the Btheory of planned behavior^on beliefs and attitudes, it has been hypothesized that carrier screening and education among married and premarital individuals belonging to Bhigh risk communitiesŵ ill have far-reaching implications towards β-thalassemia prevention in the country.…”

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confidence: 87%

Attitudes and beliefs among high- and low-risk population groups towards β-thalassemia prevention: a cross-sectional descriptive study from India

et al. 2017

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β-thalassemia is an autosomal recessive blood disorder caused by gene mutations that affect all aspects of β-globin production. In majority of Asian countries including India, the frequency of β-thalassemia is closely intertwined with social, cultural, and religious issues of the respective country. Several national level screening programs imparted education regarding β-thalassemia, but follow-up evaluation revealed that education was not effective. It has been hypothesized that the beliefs and attitudes, carrier screening, and education among Bhigh risk communities^will have far-reaching implications towards β-thalassemia prevention in the country. The present study is aimed to investigate attitudes, intention, and behavior of β-thalassemia high-and low-risk ethnic groups towards carrier screening and education. A structured questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding β-thalassemia was administered on 926 individuals belong to Arora, a high-risk ethnic group for β-thalassemia (347 rural (AR) and 202 urban (AU)) and 377 cosmopolitan commoners (CC) aged above 18 years of both sexes. To understand the relationship between various questions, Pearson's correlation test and factor analysis was performed. The responses were further categorized into the theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs with the measures of the main constructs reported as a mean. Various dimensions of knowledge, attitude, and practice reveal that the urban groups (AU and CC) are better aware of the disease Bβ-thalassemiat han the rural group (AR) who witness suffering at close quarters. The AR group is more positive for preventive measures than the urban groups. Significant correlations and factor analysis show Bintentions^for premarital and prenatal screening highly loaded as outcome behaviors. The Ajzen's BTheory of planned behavior^support that the Bintention^and Bperceived behavior control^are better predictors of Boutcome behavior^compared to Battitude^and Bsubjective norm.^As this study is crosssectional and descriptive in nature, the constructs of the theory should be considered as perceptions. However, we believe the patterns observed are indicative of Bpredicting behavior^that has far-reaching implications on health planners and administrators in designing β-thalassemia screening and prevention program.

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Knowledge and Attitude Toward the Hemoglobinopathies Premarital Screening Program in Saudi Arabia: Population-Based Survey

Cited by 51 publications

References 8 publications

Six-year outcome of the national premarital screening and genetic counseling program for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia in Saudi Arabia

Six-year outcome of the national premarital screening and genetic counseling program for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia in Saudi Arabia

Improving Knowledge and Attitude of Medical and Non-Medical Students at El Minia University Regarding Premarital Screening and Counseling

Attitudes and beliefs among high- and low-risk population groups towards β-thalassemia prevention: a cross-sectional descriptive study from India

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