research Questions

Question 1

What was the main objective of the Kuwaiti National Premarital Screening Program?

Answer 1

To estimate the prevalence rates of β-thalassemia and Sickle cell disorders and reduce marriages between carriers of hemoglobinopathies through premarital screening and genetic counseling.

Question 2

How many individuals were screened as part of the program between 2009 and 2020?

Answer 2

275,819 individuals.

Question 3

What percentage of individuals were identified with β-thalassemia trait?

Answer 3

2.12% (5861 individuals).

Question 4

What percentage of individuals were diagnosed with β-thalassemia disease?

Answer 4

0.008% (22 individuals).

Question 5

What percentage of individuals were identified with Sickle cell trait?

Answer 5

1.81% (5003 individuals).

Question 6

What percentage of individuals were diagnosed with Sickle cell disease?

Answer 6

0.062% (172 individuals)

Question 7

How did the program impact the marriage decisions of high-risk couples?

Answer 7

It prevented 50.4% of high-risk couples from marrying by issuing unsafe marriage certificates.

Question 8

What recommendations were made to improve the premarital screening program?

Answer 8

Intensifying counseling for high-risk couples, increasing general population awareness, and implementing earlier age screening policies.

Question 9

What diagnostic tests were included in the screening protocol?

Answer 9

omplete blood counts (CBC), absolute reticulocyte count, peripheral blood film, HPLC, sickling test, serum ferritin, Hb gel electrophoresis, and capillary electrophoresis

Question 10

What was the overall prevalence rate of iron deficiency anemia among the screened individuals?

Answer 10

7.86%.

Question 11

How did the prevalence rates of β-thalassemia and Sickle cell trait change over the 11-year period?

Answer 11

β-thalassemia trait rates fluctuated; Sickle cell trait rates decreased from 21.0 per 1000 in 2009 to 14.1 per 1000 in 2020

Question 12

hat were some of the other hemoglobin abnormalities detected during the screening

Answer 12

Hb D trait (0.27%), Hb E trait (0.053%), Hb C trait (0.018%), and Hb H disease (0.025%)

Question 13

What percentage of the screened population held Kuwaiti nationality

Answer 13

Almost 90%.

Question 14

What proportion of the program attendees were in the 25–34 year-age group?

Answer 14

58.96%

Question 15

What was the female to male ratio among the screened individuals?

Answer 15

Approximately 51.0% female to 49.0% male

Question 16

What percentage of the individuals applying for the premarital program were doing so for their first marriage?

Answer 16

76.32%

Question 17

What level of education did most of the participants have?

Answer 17

University degree or above (53.06%

Question 18

What was the rate of couples receiving safe marriage certificates compared to those receiving unsafe marriage certificates?

Answer 18

98% received safe certificates, 1% received unsafe certificates, and 1% were not issued a certificate.

Question 19

What ethical considerations were mentioned in the study?

Answer 19

The study was approved by the MOH ethical committee, protecting individuals’ privacy and rights with appropriate protocols.

Question 20

hat was the trend regarding the disagreement between couples over unsafe marriages during the 11 years of the program?

Answer 20

There was an increasing trend towards disagreement over unsafe marriages.

Question 21

How effective was the program in preventing marriages between couples at risk of having children with hemoglobinopathies?

Answer 21

Effective in preventing about 50.4% of such marriages.