A survey of Beta-Thalassemia Trait in Marriage Volunteers in Ilam: The Impact of National Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Thalassemia

Beta-thalassemia is the most common genetic disease in the world. More than 3 million people are carriers of thalassemia in Iran. High frequency of consanguineous marriage could lead to high incidence of the disease in Iran. A large proportion of the health budget is devoted to the treatment of thalassemia. Thalassemia control and prevention program began in 1376. This study wants to evaluate the program in Ilam. In this retrospective study, data of thalassemia carrier couples were extracted from the documents used in the national program for prevention and control of thalassemia in beginning year to 1392 and analyzed using Excel and SPSS software. A total of 55,031 couples were screened in premarital counseling centers of Ilam University of Medical Sciences. 264 couples were determined to be final suspect with frequency of 0.5%. Twenty three new affected were identified in the cities of Ilam University of Medical Sciences in the period 1376-1392. After genetic counseling, 58 couples were discouraged from marriage.Disscusion & Cancellation rate of the marriage has an increasing trend in the first year of the program to 1383. But, from 1383 and later the trend is decreased. Extent of genetic services in the country, including the possibility of prenatal diagnosis and therapeutic abortion could be a reason for the decreased rate of dissuading from the marriage. Genetic services have not been applied in Ilam yet.