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Beta-thalassemia major births after National Screening Program in Taiwan
Jimmy P S Chern1, Kai-Hsin Lin, Meng-Yao Lu
1Department of Family Medicine, Tao-Yuan General Hospital, Department of Health, Taiwan.
Objective:
A National Thalassemia Screening Program was adopted in Taiwan in 1993. This report examined that program's results and impact.
Methods:
Patients with beta-thalassemia major born between 1994 and 2003 were recruited through the help of all thalassemia clinics in Taiwan. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect the reasons for affected births.
Results:
There were 97 affected births from 1994 to 2003.These births resulted after informed choice (n = 4), screening problems (n = 83), and undetermined causes (n = 10). Approximately 83% (5/6) of affected births in 2003 came from interracial marriages.
Conclusions:
This report has identified several areas that might improve the thalassemia-screening program, including carrier screening in high school rather than in early pregnancy and the involvement of genetic counselors, providing care of new female immigrants.
