Outcome of premarital counseling of hemoglobinopathy carrier couples attending premarital services in bahrain

Abstract EN

Background : Premarital screening was introduced in 1993 as an optional service.

Evaluation of 10 years statistics in 2003, showed only 25 % attendance.

Therefore, a Royal decree of compulsory testing before issuing marriage health certificate was introduced in 2005 in order to improve attendance aiming to decrease the prevalence of hereditary blood diseases.

Objective : To determine the frequency of marriage among couples referred for hereditary blood diseases genetic counselling.

Methods : A cross sectional study involving 1070 individuals attending premarital screening in Bahrain during the period of 1st April and 15th May 2006.

Results : The frequency of sickle cell disease (SCD) ; 14 (1.3 %), sickle cell trait (SCT) ; 175 (16.4 %), 22 couples were both SCT.

The frequency of G6PD was 268 (24 %).

One candidate (0.09 %) was βthalassemia major, 30 (2.8 %) βthalassemia trait, 3 couples were carriers.

365(34 %) individuals with low RBC indices indicating possible α-thalassemia including 5 couples.

Thirty couples (60 individuals) were referred for genetic counseling with a mean age of 25.7 years.

17 couples (56.7 %) got married in spite of counseling.

Conclusion : Based on this study ; the current policy of premarital screening and counseling do not seem to be successful in discouraging most of the couples with high-risk for hereditary blood diseases from getting married.