Assessing the Success and Effectiveness of the Major β-Thalassemia Screening Program in Southeast Iran: A Case Study of Jiroft District

Abstract

Background: Major β-Thalassemia is the most prevalent singlegene disorder in Iran. Over 2 million beta-thalassemia carriersand more than 25,000 patients have been identified nationwide. This study aimed to evaluate the Major β-Thalassemia (MBT) screening surveillance system in the Jiroft district, southeast Iran.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted using the census method and was based on the information recorded in the files of all major thalassemia births (born between 2011 and 2021) in the health centers of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. A formula was used to calculate the program’s incidence, expected incidence, and success rate. Stata version 14 and Excel software were utilized to analyze the data, and the qualitative data are presented as numerical values and percentages.Results: During the study periods, 91 patients with betathalassemia Major were born in the population covered by Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. By performing prenatal diagnosis tests in the first weeks of pregnancy and obtaining parental consent for legal abortion, the birth of 422 sick children was prevented. The 11-year incidence of beta-thalassemia major was 5.32 per 10,000, and the expected incidence (if no prevention program was implemented) was 30 per 10,000 live births. The mean success rate of the Major β-Thalassemia surveillance system during the study period was 82.26%, which reached 95.45% in 2021.Conclusion: The i mplementation of efficient, e ffective h ealth policies influenced by the native culture of the region has resulted in the thalassemia prevention program in Jiroft City being completely effective. The implementation success rate of this program has exceeded 95%. Modeling and adapting these preventive policies can assist in implementing thalassemia prevention programs in other parts of the country and developing countries.

Keywords

• beta-thalassemia
• incidence
• prevention and control
• public health surveillance
• epidemiology