Attitudes toward genetic counseling in the United Arab Emirates

Aims: To assess the level of understanding of genetic advice given in the Genetic Clinic and attitudes toward consanguineous marriages, and prenatal, abortion and preconception diagnoses. Methods: One hundred couples underwent structured interviews, and various social and educational data, reason for referral and diagnosis and advice given were recorded. Three months later, the couples were asked open-ended questions about the perceived causation of the disease, recurrence risk, plans for births, and prenatal, abortion and preconception diagnoses. Results: Half of the couples acknowledged a genetic basis for their child's condition but only 10 remembered the risk given to them. There was a high correlation between educational level and remembering the risk, and the number of healthy children and future plans for further children. Almost half preferred consanguineous marriages and only 10% agreed with prenatal diagnosis and abortion, while 75% agreed with carrier screening and preconception diagnosis in affected families. Conclusion: Effective genetic counseling in this community requires an informed educated population and introduction of carrier screening and preconception diagnosis in affected families.