Matches:sickle cell disease “Gene therapy acceptance in a high-consanguinity sickle cell disease population: bridging genetic literacy to therapeutic innovation in Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Arabia, Jazan “Gene therapy acceptance in a high-consanguinity sickle cell disease population: bridging genetic literacy to therapeutic innovation in Saudi Arabia. The Jazan region of Saudi Arabia has a high prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD), compounded by consanguineous marriages. The Jazan region exemplifies a population that is markedly underrepresented in genomic medicine research, distinguished by distinctive sociocultural factors, including consanguinity rates surpassing one half. A cross-sectional online survey of 357 Jazan residents, including 104 individuals/families affected with SCD, assessed genetic literacy, clinical burden, and GT attitudes. Despite high genetic literacy (84.0% knew SCD inheritance; 72.5% were aware of consanguinity risks), only 45.4% were aware of GT. Among affected individuals, GT acceptance was independently predicted by awareness of consanguinity risk (OR, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.25-9.80) and personal SCD status (OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.08-7.74). Acceptance is strongly driven by an understanding of inheritance patterns, highlighting the need for genetic counseling that links consanguinity risks to therapeutic advances to facilitate equitable GT implementation.”