Awareness and Attitude of the General Population Towards Inherited Hemoglobinopathies in the Premarital Screening Program in the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Premarital screening (PMS) is a nationwide program that helps high-risk individuals make decisions to avoid genetic and sexually transmitted diseases from spreading to their spouse or future offspring. This study examined the knowledge and attitudes towards inherited hemoglobinopathies in PMS among the people of Northern Border Region in Saudi Arabia and their relationship to various sociodemographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia from January to March 2024. Data were gathered via questionnaire from 478 Saudi participants aged 18 years and older. The chi-square test was employed to determine the association between categorical variables. Results: All participants in the study were familiar with the PMS program. A significant portion of participants, 79.3%, acknowledged that consanguinity can increase the risk of hereditary blood disorders, while 69.9% believed that if both parents are carriers of the same genetic blood disease, their child may inherit it. Higher education, female gender, and age group (30-40) were found to be the main predictors of knowledge regarding PMS. Most of the participants (98.5%) had a positive attitude regarding the necessity of PMS as a prerequisite for marriage completion. About 82.8% indicated they would not continue with the marriage if the PMS results were incompatible. Conclusions: The study indicates a growing awareness and positive attitude towards premarital screening among the general population, with an increasing number of individuals opting for it. The findings suggest that PMS programs contribute to informed decision making, as evidenced by the rise in participants choosing to forgo marriage due to partner incompatibility. The study recommends the enhancement of health education campaigns by considering demographic factors such as age, education, and marital status. Additionally, it advocates for expanding the scope of PMS to include a wider range of health and genetic disorders to improve its overall efficacy.