The diminishing trend of β-thalassemia in Southern Iran from 1997 to 2011: the impact of preventive strategies.

The marginal zones of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf have a higher prevalence of thalassemia compared to other regions of Iran. This disease has disabled many people and resulted in increasing health care costs. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of β-thalassemia (β-thal) and to evaluate the outcome of applied preventive strategies over a 14-year period in Fars Province, Southern Iran. This cross-sectional study comprised all new cases of β-thal recorded during 1997-2011. The data were obtained from the Non-Communicable Diseases Surveillance Department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, and are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The Fars Health Network System screened 840 686 males and females applying for marriage certificates. Among the carriers, 50.5% cancelled their marriages, 42.5% married, and 7.0% did not show up at the clinics. The rate of cancelled marriages has reduced since 2000, when marriage candidates were given the option of prenatal diagnosis. From 2000 to 2011, a total of 3539 married couples were referred for prenatal diagnosis. Of these, 806 fetuses were found to carry thalassemia and 800 aborted. It is impressive to note that while 101 cases of thalassemia were recorded in 1997, this figure was reduced to two cases by 2011. This study has established that an integrated primary health care approach, with good infrastructure for implementing successful strategies, can significantly reduce the incidence of β-thal.