Frequency of haemoglobinopathies at premarital health screening in Dohuk, Iraq: implications for a regional prevention programme

β-t halassaemia major and sickle-cell disease are important health problems in Iraq. To provide information for a prevention programme, the frequency of haemoglobin disorders was mapped in Dohuk governorate. A total of 591 couples (1182 individuals) attending health centres for premarital health screening were tested; 44 (3.7%) were found to be carriers of β-thalassaemia, 14 (1.2%) of the sickle-cell gene and 1 (0.1%) of δβ-thalassaemia. A total of 3 couples (i.e. 5/1000) were at risk of having a child with β-thalassaemia major, and the estimated number of affected children with a major haemoglobinopathy was 39 per year. The findings stress the importance of a regional prevention programme for haemoglobinopathies based on premarital screening, counselling and prenatal diagnosis.