| Summary: | Genetic screening for P-thalassemia trait has been carried out in Maumere, Flores - Eastern Nusa Tenggara Province, an eastern Indonesian region with strong Melanesian influence where no HbE is found. Some 103 adult healthy unrelated individuals consists of 22 males and 81 females mostly student nurses participated in the study. Three blood indices, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and MCHC were normal.
Quantification of separated hemoglobin fractions following electrophoresis showed six individuals with P-thalassemia trait (6%) and one individual with HbAE heterozygote. The occurrence of 6% carrier of this genetic traits with low gene frequency of HbE comparable with previous studies in Java confirms the interaction of P-thalassemia and HbE distribution in malaria endemic region.
Further measures include premarital genetic counseling should be considered to avoid public health problem that may be created in the future.
Key Words: genetic screening, p-thalassemia trait, HhAE heterozygote, malaria endemic, premarital genetic counseling
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