Genetic counseling in the context of Bangladesh: current scenario, challenges, and a framework for genetic service implementation

Abstract With the advancements in genetics and genomics in the twenty-first century, genetic services have become an integral part of medical practices in high-income and upper-middle-income countries. However, people living in low and lower-middle-income countries (LICs and LIMCs), including Bangla...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohammad Jakir Hosen, Saeed Anwar, Jarin Taslem Mourosi, Sourav Chakraborty, Md. Faruque Miah, Olivier M. Vanakker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-04-01
Series:Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-021-01804-6
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Summary:Abstract With the advancements in genetics and genomics in the twenty-first century, genetic services have become an integral part of medical practices in high-income and upper-middle-income countries. However, people living in low and lower-middle-income countries (LICs and LIMCs), including Bangladesh, are rather underprivileged in receiving genetic services. Consequently, genetic disorders are emerging as a significant public health concern in these countries. Lack of expertise, high expense, the dearth of epidemiological data, insufficiently updated medical education system, poor infrastructure, and the absence of comprehensive health policies are the main factors causing people living in these countries not having access to genetic services. In this article, the authors took benefit from their professional experience of practicing medical genetics in the area and reviewed existing literature to provide their opinions. Particularly, it reviews the current knowledge of genetic disorders' burden and their causative factors in Bangladesh. It focuses on why providing genetic services is challenging in the context of the country's cultural and religious sentiment. Finally, it proposes a physician-academician collaborative framework within the existing facility that aims to tackle the challenges. Such a framework could also be useful for other LICs and LMICs to address the challenges associated with providing genetic services.
ISSN:1750-1172