Public awareness and attitude toward premarital screening program in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia, an endemic area for hemoglobinopathies: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Hemoglobinopathies are highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia, with varying incidence rates across different regions. The Eastern and Jazan regions have the highest incidence rates. To prevent hemoglobinopathies, the premarital screening program (PMS) has been established in Saudi Arabia to identify at-risk couples before marriage. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to evaluate the awareness and attitude of young adults towards PMS in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, which involved 875 individuals (560 men and 315 women). The current study report significant association between sex, personal and family history of disease, and attitude towards PMS among young adults (P< 0.05). The study concludes that while there is a substantial level of awareness and positive attitude towards PMS among the population, there is a need for more detailed health campaigns led by healthcare providers, rulers, and Islamic leaders to highlight the importance of PMS as a preventative measure to reduce the incidence of hemoglobinopathies in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.