Significance of premarital screening and genetic counselling program for hemoglobinopathies

Abstract

Introduction: Premarital screening includes general medical examination by which the promotion of a woman's and her partner's health and well-being prior to conception. It is regarded as a primary preventive approach for couples planning to conceive, as well as an important step toward protecting society of disease's spread. Hemoglobinopathies are one of the most frequent autosomal recessive illnesses in Iraq, which may associate with significant mortality and morbidity. Its inherited disorders and run down through families. Humans are affected by this disorder, which can occur due to the presence of quantitative and, or qualitative irregularities in the globin chains. Hemoglobin (Hb)S, which causes sickle cell disease (SCD), Hb-C or Hb-D illness, and other qualitative abnormalities, is the most prevalent. α- and β-thalassemia are quantitative anomalies with reduced or missing production of β or α globin chains are the most common. The world's most common single-gene diseases, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes Iraq Conclusion :All of the above data support the concept of a haemoglobinopathies prevention program based on premarital screening, counseling, and prenatal diagnosis with the aim of decrease the number of afflicted children born in the region