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Published on: August 24, 2011
A National Survey on Congenital Hypothyroidism Newborn Screening in Pakistan
Sabeen Abid Khan1, Sommayya Aftab2, Yasir Naqi Khan3
1Shifa college of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Insights
Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is widely believed essential in Pakistan, yet current screening practices show significant variation. Cost and lack of services hinder widespread implementation of CH screening.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a treatable condition requiring prompt diagnosis for optimal outcomes.
- Neonatal screening programs for CH are not routinely established in developing nations like Pakistan.
- Early detection through screening is crucial to prevent developmental issues associated with CH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate current newborn screening practices for congenital hypothyroidism in Pakistan.
- To identify barriers and variations in the implementation of CH screening programs nationwide.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was conducted using Google Forms.
- The survey targeted national pediatric societies and hospitals across Pakistan.
- Data from 341 respondents, primarily pediatricians, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Over 90% of respondents deemed newborn screening for CH essential.
- However, only 41.3% of respondents reported offering CH screening in practice.
- Key barriers included the cost of testing (32.2%), unavailability of services (8.5%), and lack of policies (5.8%).
Conclusions:
- Significant disparities exist in congenital hypothyroidism newborn screening practices across Pakistan.
- Addressing cost, service availability, and policy development is critical to improve CH screening rates.
Abstract:
Objective. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a treatable condition with a good outcome if diagnosed promptly. However, neonatal screening programs are not routinely available in developing countries in Pakistan. Method. To highlight the practices of newborn screening in Pakistan, an online survey was conducted. Google forms were circulated to national pediatric societies and hospitals. Results. Out of 341 respondents most were consultant pediatrician (n = 212, 62.17%) followed by residents (n = 80, 23.41%). Majority, (n = 309, 90.6%) believed it was essential to screen all newborns for CH. However, in practice only (n = 141, 41.3%) were offering screening. The most common reasons cited for not screening was the cost of test (n = 110, 32.2%), non-availability of testing services (n = 29, 8.5%) and lack of any implemented screening policies in the hospitals or national guidelines (n = 20, 5.8%). Differences in practice were also observed at provincial levels (P < .05). Conclusion. This survey highlights marked variation in CH newborn screening practices.
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