Marriage in spite of the doctors'' nose
An adventurous marriage and an insistence on proceeding to the end of the matter ... Marriages that are completed despite the health precautions that the mandatory medical examinations reveal before marriage, some complete them according to norms and fear the words of people and others complete the marriage even if that is for the future and safety of the generation. Specialized doctors believe that 40% of Saudi men and women who undergo the compulsory medical examination refuse to renounce marriages, despite the health risks resulting from possible marriages with which genetic diseases are expected, with which the generation needs to activate awareness programs that explain the risks and complications of genetic diseases that occur as a result of correlation of cases. Medically incompatible.
What is the solution to the delivery of conviction to the newlyweds and their families, especially since the clinics provide advice and information aid, and these clinics do not have more powers than advice .. and they do not have executive authority to prevent marriage .. The decision is in the hands of those concerned.
The General Supervisor of the Regional Laboratory and Director of the Department of Laboratories and Blood Banks in Jeddah Health Consultant Hematology Consultant Dr. Saeed Al-Amoudi said that devoting awareness among the new grooms is necessary to limit the spread of hereditary blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, pointing out that the counseling clinic in the premarital examinations center Grooms whose results do not match are provided with all the important commandments, advice and instructions related to the outcome of marriage and childbearing in the event of engagement.
He added that pre-marital examinations are divided into two parts, hereditary diseases, including sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and infectious viral diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS) and hepatitis B and C types, and in the case of cases of infectious diseases, they are completely excluded, but in cases of genetic diseases, an explanation is provided. He is sufficient for both parties about the dimensions and consequences of marriage and its risks for births, and leaves the choice for both parties to marry or not.
Dr. Al-Amoudi concluded by saying: "Awareness is sufficient to limit the spread of genetic diseases, especially in close marriage, and that grooms understand the complications of marriage in cases of incompatibility, the best protection against having children with affliction that has psychological repercussions on the injured, parents and society."
Director of the Maternity and Children Hospital that houses the premarital screening center in Jeddah, Dr. Kamal Aborkbeh, indicated that the mission of the counseling clinics is to provide medical advice to grooms whose results are inconsistent, pointing out that the doctors ’mission in the clinics is to clarify the possibilities of transmitting genetic diseases, especially sickle cell anemia. And thalassemia leaves the task of making the decision on the applicants. Dr. Abu Rakeba added that devoting awareness in this aspect through all print, audio and visual media, in addition to schools and universities, helps applicants to marry in knowledge of the dimensions and consequences of hereditary diseases and their potential risks to births. In Dr. Abu Rukba’s opinion that the pre-marital examination center at Al-Masadiah Hospital aims to protect married couples from infection with any epidemic infection that one of the parties may carry without his or her knowledge, in addition to protecting the fetus in the future from infection with infectious and hereditary diseases, since the state started from its inception In 1429 AH, those who intend to marry are obligated to undergo a medical examination, including a report that the newlyweds are free from AIDS and liver disease in categories (B) and (C) in order for them to be able to complete the marriage contract with an approved sponsor, indicating that a clinic for advice was opened in the hospital to provide educational services for those wishing to undergo For examination and obtaining confidential medical consultations.
The obstetrics and gynecology consultant at Al-Thaghr Hospital in Jeddah, Dr. Muhammad Qattan, agrees with Ray Dr. Abu Rukbah, stressing the need to focus on awareness because it contributes to the delivery of correct information to the grooms. He added: “The danger of genetic diseases does not depend on the patient only, but also includes the family and the whole community, so the patients with these chronic diseases live with them for life and therefore the prevention is by avoiding marriage. Incompatible ».
For his part, consultant pediatrician Dr. Nasreddin Al-Sharif stated that children with hereditary blood diseases live with the disease and its consequences throughout life, as their suffering is not limited to the personal level, but extends to members of their families and society, explaining that the most common hereditary blood diseases are sickle anemia and thalassemia (anemia) Mediterranean Basin) The only way to prevent it is to avoid association in the event that spouses carry genetic traits.
He hinted to me that the examinations that are conducted for the grooms reveal whether the person is a carrier of the disease or not? The person who carries the disease is not a sick person, but a healthy person, but he carries genetic traits that can be transmitted to his offspring if the other party is a carrier of the same disease, and on the other hand there is no problem if one of the parties is a carrier of the disease and the other is healthy and always informs both parties of the results in secret in the counseling clinics The marriage examination centers are affiliated with them and explain to them the possibilities that could happen to their offspring to get married, leaving them free to choose and make the appropriate decision.
The virology consultant and a member of the teaching staff at Taibah University, Dr. Elham Bint Talaat Kattan, revealed that prenuptial examinations are the first line of defense in avoiding hereditary diseases such as anemia and thalassemia, and infectious and dangerous diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis. Their results are consistent, as you know the risks and consequences of the results, but in the case of monitoring cases of infectious diseases, the marriage is prohibited and the party is referred to the specialized hospital for treatment.
Kattan stressed that AIDS is the most dangerous in his list of pre-marital examinations, as it is a fatal disease, whether in its initial or final stages, and therefore preventing the affliction of the patient with it is a protection for the other party and from having children with the deadly disease, and from this standpoint, the examinations that are conducted for the newlyweds are better prevented from The spread of diseases, whether genetic or infectious.
Director General of the General Department for Combating Genetic and Chronic Diseases at the Ministry of Health in the Healthy Marriage Program, Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Saidi, revealed in a previous census that the percentage of respondents to medical advice reached 60%, hoping to rise to the upper limit, in light of the awareness enjoyed by Saudi youth and families, indicating The average number of persons examined is 280,000 young men and women annually, which indicates that the number of refusers to respond to health advice exceeds 112,000 cases.
