Attitudes toward genetic counseling in the United Arab Emirates.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of understanding of genetic advice given in the Genetic Clinic and attitudes toward consanguineous marriages, and prenatal, abortion and preconception diagnoses.


METHODS
One hundred couples underwent structured interviews, and various social and educational data, reason for referral and diagnosis and advice given were recorded. Three months later, the couples were asked open-ended questions about the perceived causation of the disease, recurrence risk, plans for births, and prenatal, abortion and preconception diagnoses.


RESULTS
Half of the couples acknowledged a genetic basis for their child's condition but only 10 remembered the risk given to them. There was a high correlation between educational level and remembering the risk, and the number of healthy children and future plans for further children. Almost half preferred consanguineous marriages and only 10% agreed with prenatal diagnosis and abortion, while 75% agreed with carrier screening and preconception diagnosis in affected families.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective genetic counseling in this community requires an informed educated population and introduction of carrier screening and preconception diagnosis in affected families.
Al-Gazali
L I
LI
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. l.algazali@uaeu.ac.al
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D011639:Public Opinion; D014479:United Arab Emirates