What is the premarital counseling and does it include all genetic diseases? Did scientific studies prove its success? What is the status of the Sultanate with regard to genetic blood diseases? This article answers all these questions and other facts about premarital counseling.
The premarita counselin is a medical examination for those who are about to marry, through which some genetic blood diseases (sickle cell anemia and thalassemia) are detected, and it aims to protect future generations from these diseases.
It is recommended to perform these examinations immediately after the sermon. Where the two parties must verify the results of the tests before the marriage and marriage preparations, and the tests show if one of the parties is pregnant or suffering from sickle cell anemia, pregnant or suffering from Thalassemia disease, then medical advice is provided by the doctor according to the results of the tests.
A scientific review published in the Journal of Public Health Genomics in 2015 found that premarital medical examination succeeded in reducing the prevalence of births with hereditary blood diseases in countries where such examination was mandatory. Improving the effectiveness of such programs in the Middle East.
In 2003, a survey published in the Journal of Tropical Pediatrics on hereditary blood disorders found that approximately 6% and 2% of Omani children under the age of five carry the sickle cell and beta thalassemia genes, respectively. Also, the prevalence of sickle cell disease was 0.2% and beta-thalassemia 0.07%.
A study conducted in a tertiary hospital in the Sultanate (Khawla Hospital) and published in the Journal of Sultan Qaboos Medical University in 2008, showed that the prevalence rate of people carrying sickle cell anemia was 7.5%, while the prevalence rate of those infected with the disease was 0.45%.
The premarital medical examination service has been implemented in the Sultanate since 1999 and is available on an optional basis in all government primary health care institutions. The service includes a blood test that includes sickle cell anemia and thalassemia testing for those planning to marry.
A 2014 survey conducted on a section of the Omani population and published in the Journal of Public Health showed that 89.3% of adults were aware of the availability of premarital medical examination in Oman, however, 30.5% opposed taking the test themselves, regardless of whether they were married or not married.
