Public awareness of beta thalassemia in Bahrain

Genetic diseases, especially hereditary blood disorders such as thalassemia syndromes impose a significant burden on many countries. Many educational programs have been implemented in Bahrain to increase public awareness of beta thalassemia and other hereditary blood disorders. The aim of the study is to evaluate public awareness level about beta thalassemia. Cross sectional survey. Public in Bahrain. Questionnaires were distributed to 2000 individuals from December 2006 to February 2007. The participants were interviewed by either a health professional or a trained interviewer. Two thousand questionnaires were received; nevertheless, not all of them did answer all the questions. One thousand two hundred ninety-seven [65.1%] heard of beta thalassemia and 809 [40.5%] knew that both parents have to be carriers to have an affected child. One thousand five hundred forty-seven [77.8%] strongly agreed that premarital checking could prevent beta thalassemia. Females showed better knowledge than males and married individuals seem to know more about beta thalassemia than unmarried. The study sample seems to have poor knowledge of beta thalassemia indicating the need for improving their basic knowledge of the disease. Further stress on the importance of continuing the screening campaigns specially the student screening program, premarital counseling and newborn screening service is advised

Public awareness of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency

To evaluate public awareness level of G6PD deficiency in Bahrain. Cross sectional survey. Bahrain Schools, Public Gathering Centers [commercial malls and others]. A questionnaire was distributed among 2000 individuals from the public [nonprobability convenience sample]. It was conducted from December 2006 to February 2007. The participants were personally interviewed by a health professional or a trained interviewer. One thousand eight hundred fifty-nine [93.9%] has heard of G6PD deficiency and 1,586 [79.8%] recognized it as a blood disease, only 690 [34.7%] recognized it as a gender related disease. One thousand seven hundred three [85.7%] knew that fava bean ingestion can be a triggering factor for hemolysis in affected individuals. Females showed better knowledge than males and married persons seem to know more about G6PD deficiency than unmarried. The study revealed a good level of knowledge of G6PD deficiency. Some of the respondents were confused about the pattern of inheritance. Females are more knowledgeable of the disease, which affects mainly males, and married individuals seem to know more than singles. There is a general acceptance of hemoglobinopathies prevention campaigns, which is conducted in Bahrain, such as the premarital service and the student-screening program

Public awareness of sickle cell disease in Bahrain

Previous studies that have assessed patient awareness of the management of sickle cell disease [SCD] indicated a lack of awareness of the disease and possibly a need for more public education. Therefore, we measured public awareness in Bahrain of SCD. The study was conducted from December 2006 to February 2007. A questionnaire was distributed among 2000 persons selected from among the general public. The participants had face-to-face interviews with either a health professional or a trained interviewer. Most [93%] had heard of SCD and 89% knew that it can be diagnosed by a blood test, but 51% did not know the prevalence of SCD in Bahrain. Eighty-four percent recognized it as a hereditary disorder and 72% said that it can skip generations. Females showed better knowledge than males and married persons seems to know more about SCD than unmarried ones. There is a good level of knowledge about SCD among the public, though some of the respondents were confused about the difference between the carrier state of a disease and the disease itself. There is wide acceptance and appreciation of the SCD prevention campaigns being conducted in Bahrain, such as the premarital service and the student screening program

Clients' satisfaction of the premarital counseling service in Bahrain

In an attempt to reduce the incidence of genetic disease in Bahrain a premarital screening program was introduced in 1985, which included a national campaign to increase the awareness of genetic blood diseases among the population. In 1992, the premarital counseling service was extended to include all health centers and on the 23[rd] June 2004, a law has been issued mandating premarital screening and counseling for all individuals wishing to get married. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clients' satisfaction from the premarital counseling service after four years of issuing the law. Genetic Clinic at Salmaniya Medical Center. Cross sectional study. A questionnaire was distributed to the attendants of the genetic clinic [GC] for premarital counseling. Those who received and answered the questionnaire were referred from health centers [HC] after being evaluated and found at risk. The study was conduced from January 2005 to December 2007. SPSS was used to analyze the data. One thousand five hundred and sixty-six clients answered the questionnaire, 70% of the respondents reported that the service is excellent in general. In the HC, 82% faced no problems in taking an appointment and 89% had no problems during the interview. At the GC, 91% agreed that there were no significant problems in getting an appointment and 97% had no problems during the consultation. Eight-two percent of the referred couples preferred to have the certificate stamped in the GC. It took one week for 73.5% of the clients to get an appointment in the HC. Seventy-eight percent got their laboratory results within a week and 86% were seen in the genetic department within one week. After almost 4 years of issuing the premarital law in Bahrain, most clients attending the premarital service in GC are satisfied with the level of the service. The delay in getting an appointment in the HC and in getting the laboratory results are major problems the clients are concerned about

ABO blood group and Rhd phenotypes in Bahrain: Results of screening school children and blood donors

Frequencies of ABO blood groups and Rh types show geographic variations. To estimate frequencies of ABO groups and Rh types in Bahraini subjects. Frequencies of ABO blood groups and Rh types along with the respective gene frequencies were estimated in two study groups: [1] 5675 Bahraini school students in age group 16-20years and [2] 7362 adult Bahraini blood donors. Frequencies of ABO groups in both study groups showed Group O>Group B>GroupA>Group AB. Both study groups also showed >90 percent frequency of the RhD phenotype. The frequencies of ABO and Rh phenotypes in Bahrain are similar to those reported from most areas in the Arabian Gulf region. These frequencies appear to be intermediate between Europe and south/south-east Asia

survey of patients with sickle cell crisis presenting to accident and emergency department of Salmaniya medical centre, Bahrain

In 1990 hereditary anaemias were found to occupy third place among ten leading causes of attendance at Salmaniya Medical Centre [SMC]I. Two hundred Bahraini sickle cell disease [SCD] patients who attended Accident and Emergency [A and E] department for vaso-occulusive crisis [VOC] during the period of January to March 1994, were studied to evaluate their clinical presentation and management. Males outnumbered females in ratio of 2: 1, 60% were in the age group of 15-30 years. Extremities pain was the commonest presenting feature, 86% followed by pain in abdomen and generalised body ache. Most patients responded to treatment with hydration. narcotic analgesic or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and were discharged home from A and E 83%. It appears that Bahraini patients suffer from a milder type of SCD

Congenital anomalies in Bahrain

This study was carried out in order to find the incidence of congenital anomalies in Bahrain, we studied the statistics of the Ministry of Health for 8 years from 1978 to 1985. We found that the incidence rate of congenital anomalies in Bahrain is 20%. We studied each anomaly separately and compared it with the incidence in other countries whenever possible, together with the mode of these disorders as known from literature [1, 2, 3] We found that anomalies of the musculoskeletal system have the highest rate [2.8 per thousand], following that, the genitourinary system [2.5 per thousand] and chromosomal disorders [0.9 per thousand]. We also noticed that the anomalies are of increasing frequency. Due to the decline in fatal infectious diseases, congenital abnormalities will, in the near future, be one of the major causes of infant mortality, as is the case in developed countries [4]. We studied the congenital anomalies during the last eight years to find the incidence of these diseases in Bahrain. We did not attempt to differentiate between the major and the minor anomalies, i.e. major anomalies, those malformations having a detrimental effect on either the physical functions or social acceptability of the individual, in contrast to minor malformations which have neither medical or cosmetic consequences for the patient [4, 5]