Public Health Utility of Premarital Screening Tests for ABO / Rhesus Blood Group Incompatibilities and Hepatitis B and C Viral Infections

Background: Premarital medical screening tests (PMST) occupies a strategic public health position in the prevention and control of both heritable and infectious health conditions which a couple who intend to get married may transmit to each other and also pass to their offspring. It is useful in the detection of such infectious diseases like hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus; as well as genetically inherited diseases like haemolytic disease of the new born (HDN) resulting from ABO and rhesus blood group incompatibilities. This study was aimed at determining the public health roles of PMST, by ascertaining the prevalence of viral hepatitis A and B viral infections and ABO / rhesus incompatibilities in premarital couples.

Methodology: This is a retrospective assessment of laboratory records of premarital screenings for 252 males and 252 females who were preparing to get married. The panel of tests include ABO and Rhesus (D) blood groups, hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C. The procedure for all the analysis, followed the directives contained in the laboratory standard operating manual.

Results: The overall prevalence of the viral hepatitis infections (B or C) was found to be 1.8% among the 504 persons whose records were reviewed. The highest prevalence of 3.2% among age brackets was noticed among the >35-year-olds, while the least prevalence 0f 0.6% occurred among the 31–35-year-olds. The females had a higher prevalence (2.4%) than the males (1.2%). The prevalence of HBV among the premarital individuals was 1.4%; while hepatitis C was 0.4%. The prevalence of incompatibilities for ABO and rhesus factor were 33.3% and 5.6% respectively.

Conclusion: The public health utility of PMST is obvious, as widespread screening by prospective couples will significantly reduce the incidences of many genetic disorders, sexually transmitted, blood-borne and vertically transmitted infections. The use of legal enactments and massive public enlightenments are recommended to ensure widespread compliance to premarital screening by prospective couples.