Existing Challenges Associated with Offering Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis in an Arab Society in the Sultanate of Oman

• Published in: Journal of genetic counseling Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 928 - 932
• Main Authors: Bruwer, Zandrè, Achandira, Udayakumar, Al Kharousi, Khalsa, Al-Kindy, Adila
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2014; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: 6q deletion; Arabs - statistics & numerical data; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Case Presentation; Clinical Psychology; Congenital Abnormalities - diagnosis; Consanguinity; Ethics; Female; Genetic counseling; Genetic Counseling - methods; Genetic disorders; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic testing; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Islam; Male; Oman - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Prenatal; Prenatal development; Prenatal Diagnosis - statistics & numerical data; Public Health; Termination of pregnancy; Translocation; Oman; Prenatal; Translocation; 6q deletion; Genetic counseling; Termination of pregnancy; Islam
• ISSN: 1059-7700; 1573-3599
• DOI: 10.1007/s10897-014-9764-x

The incidence of congenital anomalies and/or genetic disorders in the Omani population has reached figures greater than double the global statistics. Preference for consanguineous unions together with the fact that termination of pregnancy in Muslim communities are largely avoided, have been highlighted as contributing factors. This overview identifies a third significant aspect contributing to the elevated rate of genetic disorders in the Omani population. Namely, a lack of services that are able to offer termination of pregnancy for severe congenital anomalies, to requesting parents. In this report we select an unusual case of a family at risk for two distinct genetic disorders - 6q micro-deletion and unbalanced products of conception attributed to a balanced parental translocation involving chromosome 3 and 13, to portray and examine the current situation faced by Omani couples interested in prenatal diagnosis for termination of pregnancy. Additional challenges and pitfalls to developing a prenatal diagnostic service as part of the genetic service in Oman are discussed.