Volume 26, Issue 128, October 2022

Community awareness of hereditary blood diseases and the benefit of premarital screening program in Saudi Arabia

Mohamed A Elhefny^1,2, Adnan Alessa³, Saud Alzahrani³, Yahya Almarhabi³, Badr Almaedy³, Omar Alshaikhi³, Hatem Alessa³, Hasna Alghamdi³, Abdullah Alamri³, Thamer Alghamdi⁴

¹Department of Genetics, College of Medicine-AlQunfudah, UmmAlQuraUniversity, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
²Department of Cancer and Molecular Biology, NCI Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
³Students of College of Medicine-AlQunfudah, UmmAl-QuraUniversity, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
⁴Student of College of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited syndromes characterized by the presence of hemoglobin S, abnormal hemoglobin that is poorly soluble and polymerizes when deoxygenated, which results in sickle-shaped erythrocytes. These syndromes manifest with vaso-occlusive phenomena and hemolytic anemia. SCD in Saudi Arabia, which suffers from high consanguinity marriage rates, creates a fertile environment for it to spread deep into its roots. This study has targeted the Saudi Arabian community based on wondering why after a decade and a half ago of applying to premarital screening programs still SCDs a health and social issue. By using an online questionnaire covering the kingdom's regions, surveyed all Saudi communities. A total of 11276 participants completed the questionnaire; Women represent 70.6% of the participants, while men represent 29.4%. The educational level of the participants was high with 69.8% having a university education and 27.9% having high school. The unmarried participants represent 63.8% (N = 7873), who show positive awareness and perception regarding the impact of hereditary blood diseases on quality of life and the use of the premarital examination program. Married participants represent 36.2% (N = 4091) of total participants which 44.98% (N = 1840) of them have consanguinity marriage and 55.1% (N = 2251) have no consanguinity. Remarkably, the percentage of affected children with SCD of a couple who has consanguinity marriage is almost the same percentage of affected children of couples with no consanguinity, but the severity and complications elevated more in children from consanguineous marriage.

Keywords: Sickle cell disease, hereditary blood diseases, premarital screening program, Saudi Arabia, community awareness.

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms424e2505

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i128/ms424e2505

Published: 24 October 2022