Genetic counseling for individuals with hemoglobin disorders and for their relatives: a systematic literature review

• Main Authors: Tatiana Dela-Sávia Ferreira, Elisângela de Paula Silveira-Lacerda, Marco Tulio Antonio García-Zapata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2014-10-01
• Series: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP
• Subjects: Asesoramiento genético; Hemoglobinopatías; Prevención de enfermedades; Educación en salud; Revisión
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0080-62342014000500932&lng=en&tlng=en

Objective: To identify genetic counseling programs that do not encourage therapeutic abortion for individuals with hemoglobin disorders and/or for their relatives. Method: Systematic literature review of articles published from 2001 to 2012 that are located in the PubMed, LILACS, SciELO and SCOPUS databases using keywords in Portuguese, English and Spanish and that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria described on a standardized form. Results: A total of 409 articles were located, but only eight (1.9%) were selected for analysis. Conclusion: Although seldom mentioned in the literature, educational/preventive programs targeting hemoglobinopathies are feasible and allow the affected individuals to acquire knowledge on the consequences of this condition and their odds of transmitting it.