Background: Premarital screening (PMS) is a nationwide program that helps high-risk individuals make decisions to avoid genetic and sexually transmitted diseases from spreading to their spouse or future offspring. This study examined the knowledge and attitudes towards inherited hemoglobinopathies in PMS among the people of Northern Border Region in Saudi Arabia and their relationship to various sociodemographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia from January to March 2024. Data were gathered via questionnaire from 478 Saudi participants aged 18 years and older. The chi-square test was employed to determine the association between categorical variables. Results: All participants in the study were familiar with the PMS program. A significant portion of participants, 79.3%, acknowledged that consanguinity can increase the risk of hereditary blood disorders, while 69.9% believed that if both parents are carriers of the same genetic blood disease, their child may inherit it. Higher education, female gender, and age group (30–40) were found to be the main predictors of knowledge regarding PMS. Most of the participants (98.5%) had a positive attitude regarding the necessity of PMS as a prerequisite for marriage completion. About 82.8% indicated they would not continue with the marriage if the PMS results were incompatible. Conclusions: The study indicates a growing awareness and positive attitude towards premarital screening among the general population, with an increasing number of individuals opting for it. The findings suggest that PMS programs contribute to informed decision making, as evidenced by the rise in participants choosing to forgo marriage due to partner incompatibility. The study recommends the enhancement of health education campaigns by considering demographic factors such as age, education, and marital status. Additionally, it advocates for expanding the scope of PMS to include a wider range of health and genetic disorders to improve its overall efficacy.

Background: Oral contraceptives are commonly taken by women and are known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between oral contraceptive use and natural anticoagulants, that is, protein C (PC), protein S (PS), and antithrombin in pregnant women with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Materials and methods: This case–control study was conducted on 330 pregnant women, that is, cases 165 (who used oral contraceptives) and controls 165 (who did not use oral contraceptives). The levels of PC, PS, and antithrombin were measured and compared between the two groups. The use of different types of oral contraceptives and their association with DVT and PC and PS were also analyzed. Results: The study found that women with DVT had significantly lower levels of PC and PS compared with controls (P < 0.001). However, no significant difference was found in the levels of AT. Among the different types of oral contraceptives, first-generation progestin pills including Ethynodiol Diacetate, Norethindrone Acetate, Norethynodrel, and second-generation oral contraceptives (Lynestrenol, Levonorgestrel and Norgestrel) were not found to be associated with lower levels of PC and AT while Desogestrel, Norgestimate, and Gestodene (third-generation) were associated with lower levels of PS. Conclusion: This study suggests that the use of contraceptives, particularly those containing Desogestrel, Norgestimate, and Gestodene, may be associated with a higher risk of thrombosis because of the associated lower levels of PS. Monitoring anticoagulant levels is crucial in preventing DVT in this population.

Hepatitis B is a prevalent disease, especially in children. Numerous factors influence its vaccination rate. Therefore, this study aims to assess different socio-economic factors associated with hepatitis B vaccination among children in Sudan. Data from the nationwide Sudan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014 were utilized. The dataset comprises the hepatitis B immunization status and child, parental, and household characteristics of 2,672 children aged 12 to 23 months. Univariable and multivariable survey logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify determinants of hepatitis B immunization, and unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were reported along with 95% confidence intervals. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. IBM SPSS was used to facilitate data analysis. The national hepatitis B vaccination rate in Sudan was 73.9%. Urban regions had a statistically greater rate of immunization than the average; 81.8% of children were registered, according to the survey. The findings showed that 87.2% of households had an educated mother; married mothers were more than mothers who were single or had never married. The result revealed that 87% of mothers gave birth in the private sector. According to the antenatal visits, 81% of mothers had four or more prenatal visits. The logistic regression analysis for socio-demographic and household characteristics revealed that the odds of immunization are significantly higher for registered children (AOR: 1.69), with the highest likelihood of immunization among mothers aged 35-39 (AOR: 2.48). The study reported that the chance of hepatitis B immunization was highest among women who had four or more antenatal visits (AOR: 1.95). Additionally, the likelihood of receiving a vaccination was higher for all wealth levels than for the poorest (AOR: 4.97). Furthermore, compared to a public or private health institution, the odds of immunization are much lower when the delivery takes place at home (AOR: 0.67). The study highlighted the importance of socio-economic factors in determining hepatitis B vaccination among children in Sudan. Educated mothers, registered children, and the place of delivery have significantly impacted the immunization against the hepatitis B virus. However, marital status, polygyny, and the wealth index quintile were found to be the main barriers to HBV vaccine coverage.