Evaluation of the Prevalence of Thalassemia and Sickle Hemoglobin in Marriage Applicants Referring to the Genetic Disease Counseling Center in Kazeroun, Iran during 2014-2018

Background: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of thalassemia minor and sickle hemoglobin in marriage applicants referring to the Genetic Diseases Counseling Center of Kazeroun Health Center over 2014-2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kazeroun, Iran. The statistical population included all couples referring to the marriage counseling centers in Kazeroun for pre-marriage tests during 2014-2018. In this study, the registration data associated with the health records of the couples seeking marriage counseling were used. Results: Over the years under scrutiny, 31114 applicants (15557 couples) referred to the health counseling center for marriage tests under the supervision of the health network. Among the marriage applicants, the highest prevalence of beta-thalassemia, alphathalassemia, anemia, sickle cell hemoglobin, and hemoglobinopathy was reported in 2014 (0.07), 2018 (0.15), 2014 (0.66), 2018 (0.9), and 2014 (0.05), respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the prevalence of thalassemia and sickle cell anemia in Kazeroun over the study years was similar to that in other parts of Iran over the same years.