(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) A joint study, conducted by the UNFPA GCC Office and the Word Health Organization (WHO) in various parts of the country, has revealed that premarital counselling programme has few takers and it is underutilised in the sultanate.
The study was conducted between June 8 and 12 in various parts of the country.
''Currently, premarital counselling is being underutilised. Only ten per cent of couples make use of this service. The programme needs to be reshaped to attract higher number of people,'' a UNFPA GCC office statement said.
The findings of the UNFPA-WHO study gains significance in the backdrop of an earlier study by the Ministry of Health (MoH) figures which showed that 12 per cent of the population suffers from diabetes with a rising tendency. Besides, approximately 120 children are born yearly with sickle cell anaemia and 20 with Beta Thalassemia.
A UNFPA statement said that studies conducted earlier showed that around six per cent of the Omani population suffers from blood disorders. This includes sickle cell disease, affecting two per cent of the population, and Beta Thalassemia carried by two per cent while affecting 0.2 per cent.
When contacted by Muscat Daily, a UNFPA spokesperson said, ''It is too early to answer any questions since the report is not out yet. Besides, it has to be revised and has to be approved by the government,'' he said.
Explaining the ambit and purpose of the study the UNFPA statement said, ''The study was undertaken as a technical assistance to the family and community health department of the MoH. The scope of the study included assessment of the current situation of the healthcare with regard to preconception care.
''It also aimed at providing guidance to the ministry on how to incorporate preconception care services as a package into the current services and to strengthen the ministry's national healthcare system and services. The main objective was to conduct an assessment of preconception care in Oman, studying premarital screening and counselling.''
The UNFPA statement added that a comprehensive review of resource allocations and policy implementations will take place once the report is approved by the government.
The premarital screening programme was started in Muscat in 1999 and in other hospitals across Oman in 20
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