الفهرس 
Theoretical and operational definitionsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Premarital screening and genetic counseling program is one of the most important primary preventive programs aims to reduce the incidence of genetic disorders and sexually transmitted diseases. It is also considered a vital step toward allowing people to enjoy life and protecting the society, hence minimizing the burden on persons, families and community and increasing the knowledge of the community about genetic disorders (Al-Deen, 2021).The health care professionals are logical choices for conveying valid information about pre-marital screening and genetic counseling. The Nurse has an integral role in providing genetic services, utilizing a variety of communication and information gathering techniques to gather the information that includes assessing genetic risk, provides information, discussing available testing options and provides appropriate supportive counseling (Ali et al., 2018).The purpose of the present study was to evaluate perception of premarital screening and genetic counseling among future couples.
The present study was carried out in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) center (Qebly) in Shebin El-Kom city at Menoufia Governorate A descriptive cross sectional design was used to carry out the present study.
A convenience sample of three hundred and sixty future couples from MCH center (Qebly) who fulfilled the following criteria was selected:
Inclusion criteria:
Both genders: Male and female planned to get married.
Throughout the course of the present study, data were collected using two instruments which are revised by a jury of qualified experts and then tested for validity and reliability. Instruments were:Instrument I (Appendix A):
A structured interviewing questionnaire, it involves three main parts:Part 1: Demographic characteristics of the studied future couples as age, gender, education, residence, occupation, income, relative relationship, parental consanguinity, personal history of hereditary disease and family history of hereditary disease.Part 2: Level of knowledge of the studied future couples regarding premarital screening and genetic counseling.Part 3: The perception of the studied future couples regarding premarital screening and genetic counseling.Instrument II (Appendix B):
Instrument II:Part 1: Attitude of the studied future couples regarding premarital screening and genetic counseling e.g. Agree to carryout premarital screening and genetic counseling, prefer relative marriage, advice future couple to conduct PMCGS, appropriate time of carrying out PMSGC is just before marriage.
An approval from the Committee of Hearing and Ethics was obtained from Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University. Approaches ensuring the ethics were considered in the study regarding confidentiality and informed consent. The researcher introduced herself to the study participants and explained the purpose of the study in order to obtain their acceptance to participate in the study as well as to gain their cooperation.Confidentiality was achieved by the use of closed instrument with the names of the participants replaced by numbers. All future couples were informed that the information they provided during the study would be kept confidential and used only for statistical purpose and after finishing the study, the findings would be presented as a group data with no personal participant’s information remained. After explanation prior to enrollment in the study, informed consent was obtained verbally from all future couples. Each future couples informed that participation in the study was voluntary and that she could withdraw from the study whenever she decided to and each one was given the opportunity to freely refuse the participation. They were free to ask any questions about the study details.Upon completion of data collection, each answer was coded and scored. The researcher coded the data into a coding instrument so that the data could be prepared for computer use. Data were statistically analyzed using (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 22, SPSS .Graphics were done using Excel program.The findings of the present study answered the study questions: What is the perception of premarital screening and genetic counseling among future couples?Is there a relationship between perception of premarital screening and genetic counseling among future couples and their Sociodemographic characteristics? Conclusions The main findings of the present study showed that:More than half of the studied future couples had a positive perception of premarital screening and genetic counseling and approximately three- quarter of the studied future couples strongly agreed on the benefits and the importance of premarital screening and genetic counseling. This answered the first research question.
There were highly statistical significant differences among the total perception of the studied future couples regarding premarital screening and genetic counseling and their demographic characteristics: level of education, residence and income. This answered the second research question. This answered the second research question.
Recommendations
- Based on the study findings the following were recommended:- Increasing knowledge of the community regarding premarital screening and genetic counseling in collaboration with adequate religious support and government policy
- Broadcasting of information about the premarital program through official education, different types of mass media and public education program regarding tests of premarital screening and genetic counseling and complication of consanguinity.- Incorporate the benefits of premarital screening and genetic counseling in high school and university curricula.Suggestions for future studies:- Providing health education programs to raise awareness and knowledge of single young people regarding premarital screening and genetic counseling.- Studying the effect of education programs on university students’ knowledge, perception and attitude, regarding premarital screening and genetic counseling.