Attitudes toward genetic counseling in the United Arab Emirates

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.

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.

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.

Effective genetic counseling in this community requires an informed educated population and introduction of carrier screening and preconception diagnosis in affected families.