Knowledge of the University students toward premarital screening program

Abstract

Premarital screening program is a method that can accurately identify asymptomatic carriers of hemoglobinopathies and provide genetic counselling to couples for a healthy reproductive life. To assess the university students’ knowledge of the premarital screening program. Method: a cross-sectional design using systematic random sample technique for selecting 265 students from the four constituent colleges of the university. Self-administered questionnaire consisted of 3 parts to collect data: students’ demographic data, students’ knowledge about hereditary diseases, and premarital screening program. The study findings revealed that more than half of the students had a positive family history of hereditary diseases. Most of them were aware that premarital screening program reduces the genetic and sexually-transmitted diseases. Around half of them had an average knowledge level about hereditary diseases and premarital screening program. The majority of the participants have an average knowledge level about the premarital screening program. Awareness and educational programs can be organized for university students and the community.