The Iran Thalassemia Prevention Program: Success or Failure?

Area of Science:

• Medical Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Iran is situated in the
• thalassemia belt
• a national thalassemia prevention program was established in 1995.
• Previous studies on the program's success have yielded mixed results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Iran's national thalassemia prevention program.
• To identify factors contributing to the program's success or limitations.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
• Articles published in Farsi and English up to March 2015 were included.
• 16 relevant articles on the program's success were selected after screening.

Main Results:

• The program has significantly reduced new thalassemia births nationwide.
• Genetic laboratory networks played a crucial role in decreasing new births.
• Program success varied, with some provinces like Sistan and Baluchestan showing less impact.

Conclusions:

• The Iranian thalassemia prevention program demonstrates considerable success in reducing new births.
• There is a need to adapt the program to diverse provincial social contexts.
• Further efforts are required to clarify and enhance public awareness and attitudes regarding inherited disease prevention.