Pilot screening program for thalassemia in a country with limited resources: a collaboration model between close neighboring countries.
We describe a collaborating model between two close neighboring countries in
establishing such a screening program for thalassemia. After training and setting
up of facilities, a total of 152 out of 187 hospital staff were screened as a pilot
activity to encourage community participation. Referring system for sending
blood samples to a reference center in Thailand was also established. Among 152
health staff, 12.5% α0-thal, 2% β-thal and 13% Hb E carriers were found. Applying
thalassemia screening to 411 pregnant women and 71 spouses, 5 couples at risk of
bearing a child of thalassemia disease were identified. The thalassemia screening
program has a sensitivity of 99.5%, specificity of 77%, positive predictive value of
73%, and negative predictive value of 99.5%. Thus, it is possible to operate a thalassemia
screening program with acceptable performance in a low-middle income
country (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) with the cooperation of a referral
center located within close proximity in a middle income country (Thailand).
PMID: 29620818 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health - Category: Tropical Medicine Tags: Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health Source Type: research
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