Abstract
Fear of psychological damage has curtailed mass genetic screening, and adolescents have often been excluded for presumed greater susceptibility to its negative impact. Mass education and genetic screening for β-thal trait were conducted among Americans of Greek descent from 1972-75. The 14 adolescents found to have β-thal trait and matched controls were interviewed to determine objective knowledge and subjective interpretation of the seriousness of β-thal trait, their responses to learning that they were carriers of a lethal gene, and their reproductive attitudes and plans. 80% had a good or fair recall of objective information. Traits knew more about the trait, and considered it less serious than controls. Although 8 traits recalled having been upset on learning they were carriers, none remained upset very long. All appeared to find constructive ways of using the information. While not believing that their choice of mate would be affected, when asked about having children should they marry a person with the trait, 36% of traits said they would adopt, and 29% said they would have no children rather than risk having an affected child. In contrast to the prevailing notion, adolescents, who are less threatened by immediate childbearing responsibilities than adults, may be less traumatized than adults by specific genetic information. They appear to benefit from having time to assimilate and integrate this information before facing decisions on child-bearing.
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Mann, C., Anyan, W. & Pearson, H. AN EVALUATION OF A GENETIC SCREENING PROGRAM FOR THALASSEMIA TRAIT IN A GREEK ADOLESCENT POPULATION. Pediatr Res 11, 372 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00018
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00018