Overview:
Marriage is the fundamental building block of society, and the cornerstone in building emotional, healthy and family relationships. The healthy marriage guarantees preventing the family members from the hereditary and infectious diseases; thus building a happy and stable family.
Healthy Marriage:
Healthy marriage is defined as state of agreement and harmony between the marriage partners with regard to the healthy, psychological, sexual, social, and legislative aspects, aiming at making a sound family and begetting healthy children.
Premarital Screening:
Premarital screening is defined as testing couples who are planning to get married soon for common genetic blood disorders (e.g. sickle cell anemia and thalassemia and sickle cell anemia) and infectious diseases (e.g. hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS). The premarital screening aims to give medical consultation on the odds of transmitting the abovementioned diseases to the other partner/spouse or children and to provide partners/spouses with options that help them plan for healthy family.
Objectives of Premarital Screening Program:
- Limiting the spread of some genetic blood diseases (e.g. sickle-cell anemia and thalassemia) and infectious diseases (e.g. hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS).
- Promoting awareness about the concept of the comprehensive healthy marriage.
- Reducing pressure over health institutions and blood banks.
- Avoiding the social and psychological problems for families whose children suffer.
- Reducing the family and community’s financial burdens of treating the injured persons.
Hence, those couple, who are planning to get married soon, are advised to conduct the premarital screening at least three months before the marriage date; so that the couple can plan their lives better, as the premarital compatibility certificates is valid for only six months. The screening for infectious diseases can also be reconducted when needed.
The Program Services:
The Premarital Screening Program provides all citizens with many services, including lab tests and medical consultation sessions at more than 131 healthcare centers across the Kingdom. The couples, who are planning to get married, are received together or separately with prior appointment.
If one of the two couples is from outside the Kingdom, the following steps should be met:
- Ensuring that all screening tests for such diseases covered by the program (thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS) are performed.
- Ensuring that all personal information of that couple is clear.
- The medical center should be accredited, and all screening results should be attested by the Saudi Embassy.