title: Prevalence of genitalia malformation in Iranian children: findings of a nationwide screening survey at school entry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ambiguous genitalia is a hereditary disorder that usually requires early attention and detection. The discovery of ambiguous genitalia in a neonate is situation that could be difficult to manage, not only because of complications such as salt-losing, but also due to the importance of sex determination before psychological gender could be established. Awareness of the prevalence of ambiguous genitalia can affect the attitude and consideration of physicians and related medical personnel about disease in different communities. So in this study, the prevalence of ambiguous genitalia and undescended testes (UDT) in Iran was reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  This national study was conducted in 2009-2010 as part of the routine screening examinations at school entry in Iran. The physical examinations were performed for students at entry to three school levels by physicians and medical personnel. Execution and conduction of this program was the duty of the University of Medical Sciences in each province.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, the prevalence of ambiguous genitalia was 0.04% at national level (0.03%, 0.05%, and 0.03% at 6, 12, and 15 year olds, respectively). The prevalence of ambiguous genitalia was not significantly different according to age group and living area. The average of UDT) prevalence in the whole country was 0.13%. The prevalence of UDT was higher at elementary school level than in the other two levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the prevalence of genitalia abnormalities was not high in the school students in Iran, given the importance of the issue and in order to find the ambiguous genitalia or UDT, medical examinations and parental notification should be taken seriously at an earlier age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir-Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Armanian
authors.affiliation: Professor of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelishadi
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Population, Family, and School Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gelayol
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ardalan
authors.affiliation: Department of School Health, Bureau of Health and Fitness, Ministry of Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taslimi
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Population, Family, and School Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Majzoubeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran and Bureau of Population, Family, and School Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Esmaeil
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Motlagh
keywords: Ambiguous genitalia; screening examinations; undescended testes