Assessment of prospective genetic counseling in the Ferrara area.

A group of 613 heterozygotes for beta thalassemia (267 married, 346 unmarried) who were screened mostly at elementary school age, were identified and interviewed at the average age of 23.7 years to assess their knowledge of the heterozygous state and its implications. It was found that 83% recalled some information about their heterozygous state; only 60% had some information about the meaning of being heterozygous, and only 26% said they knew of some relationship between Cooley's anemia and the heterozygous state for beta thalassemia. In the married group, the proportion of those having married another carrier was in agreement with random mating expectations. It was concluded that there is ample room for improvement in the procedures of delivery of prospective genetic counseling at the population level in this area.