Abstract
Due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages in Oman, there is a correspondingly high prevalence of hereditary blood disorders, particularly sickle cell disease and β-thalassaemia. This article proposes the possibility of implementing mandatory premarital carrier screening for blood disorders in Oman, while giving due consideration to potential social and cultural obstacles. Although the implementation of such legislation would require collaboration between different sectors and may negatively affect the autonomy of certain individuals, mandatory premarital screening would help to alleviate the burden of hereditary blood disorders on the national healthcare system, as well as reduce avoidable suffering among carriers and their families.
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/squmj.2018.18.01.004
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 18(1), e24-29
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Al-Balushi, A. A., & Al-Hinai, B. (2025). Should Premarital Screening for Blood Disorders be an Obligatory Measure in Oman? Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 18(1), e24-29. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2018.18.01.004
MLA 9
Al-Balushi, Amal A., and Budoor Al-Hinai. "Should Premarital Screening for Blood Disorders be an Obligatory Measure in Oman?" Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, 2025, pp. e24-29. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2018.18.01.004.
Chicago (author–date)
Al-Balushi, Amal A., and Budoor Al-Hinai. 2025. "Should Premarital Screening for Blood Disorders be an Obligatory Measure in Oman?" Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 18 (1): e24-29. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2018.18.01.004.
Harvard
Al-Balushi, A. A. and Al-Hinai, B. (2025) 'Should Premarital Screening for Blood Disorders be an Obligatory Measure in Oman?', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 18(1), pp. e24-29. doi:10.18295/squmj.2018.18.01.004.
Vancouver
Al-Balushi AA, Al-Hinai B. Should Premarital Screening for Blood Disorders be an Obligatory Measure in Oman? Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;18(1):e24-29. doi:10.18295/squmj.2018.18.01.004
IEEE
A. A. Al-Balushi, and B. Al-Hinai, "Should Premarital Screening for Blood Disorders be an Obligatory Measure in Oman?," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. e24-29, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.2018.18.01.004.