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The experiences of couples undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at the Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an alternative reproductive technology integrated with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). It is a well-established technique offering reproductive options for families at a high risk of transmitting a genetic disorder, allowing them to avoid a termination of pre...

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Main Author: Al-Kharusi, Khalsa
Other Authors: Wessels, Tina-Marié
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Division of Human Genetics 2017
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access_status_str Open Access
author Al-Kharusi, Khalsa
author2 Wessels, Tina-Marié
author_browse Al-Kharusi, Khalsa
Wessels, Tina-Marié
author_facet Wessels, Tina-Marié
Al-Kharusi, Khalsa
author_sort Al-Kharusi, Khalsa
collection Thesis
description Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an alternative reproductive technology integrated with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). It is a well-established technique offering reproductive options for families at a high risk of transmitting a genetic disorder, allowing them to avoid a termination of pregnancy (TOP). Consanguineous unions are common and encouraged in many Arab communities. This can lead to an increased risk of one or more autosomal recessive disorders that may occur within the family. Traditional prenatal testing involves testing fetal cells with the option of TOP of an affected fetus. In Arab communities where TOP is restricted under Muslim law, such testing is not acceptable. For these couples and their family members, PGD is a feasible option as the fetus is diagnosed before implantation and allows for only healthy embryos to be implanted. However, undergoing PGD is relatively new in the Arabic Muslim countries and Omani patients have only recently had access to the service. This study utilised a phenomenological approach to explore the experience of Omani families who had selected to undergo PGD as a means of reducing the risk of having a child affected with a genetic disorder. Fourteen participants from eight families who underwent PGD were interviewed. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. The research identified five main themes; Desire for a Healthy Child; Anxiety "Taraqub"; Unforeseen; Secrecy; Me and My Partner. The PGD experience was reported as physically and emotionally distressing. Some participants felt attached to their embryos regardless of health status, while the majority did not anticipate the loss of intimacy, autonomy and control they experienced, particularly related to the insemination process. The social and religious background of participants played a significant role in the participant's perception of PGD, which has both practical and psychosocial implications. The findings of the research have provided insight into the PGD experiences of Omani families and can be used to improve the services that are currently available to these families.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:34:39.078Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2017
publishDateRange 2017
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publisher Division of Human Genetics
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/23776 The experiences of couples undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at the Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman Al-Kharusi, Khalsa Wessels, Tina-Marié Bruwer, Zandré Genetic Counselling Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an alternative reproductive technology integrated with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). It is a well-established technique offering reproductive options for families at a high risk of transmitting a genetic disorder, allowing them to avoid a termination of pregnancy (TOP). Consanguineous unions are common and encouraged in many Arab communities. This can lead to an increased risk of one or more autosomal recessive disorders that may occur within the family. Traditional prenatal testing involves testing fetal cells with the option of TOP of an affected fetus. In Arab communities where TOP is restricted under Muslim law, such testing is not acceptable. For these couples and their family members, PGD is a feasible option as the fetus is diagnosed before implantation and allows for only healthy embryos to be implanted. However, undergoing PGD is relatively new in the Arabic Muslim countries and Omani patients have only recently had access to the service. This study utilised a phenomenological approach to explore the experience of Omani families who had selected to undergo PGD as a means of reducing the risk of having a child affected with a genetic disorder. Fourteen participants from eight families who underwent PGD were interviewed. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. The research identified five main themes; Desire for a Healthy Child; Anxiety "Taraqub"; Unforeseen; Secrecy; Me and My Partner. The PGD experience was reported as physically and emotionally distressing. Some participants felt attached to their embryos regardless of health status, while the majority did not anticipate the loss of intimacy, autonomy and control they experienced, particularly related to the insemination process. The social and religious background of participants played a significant role in the participant's perception of PGD, which has both practical and psychosocial implications. The findings of the research have provided insight into the PGD experiences of Omani families and can be used to improve the services that are currently available to these families. 2017-01-31T09:15:30Z 2017-01-31T09:15:30Z 2016 Master Thesis Masters MSc (Med) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/23776 eng application/pdf Division of Human Genetics Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Genetic Counselling
Al-Kharusi, Khalsa
The experiences of couples undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at the Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman
thesis_degree_str Master's
title The experiences of couples undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at the Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman
title_full The experiences of couples undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at the Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman
title_fullStr The experiences of couples undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at the Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman
title_full_unstemmed The experiences of couples undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at the Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman
title_short The experiences of couples undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at the Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman
title_sort experiences of couples undergoing preimplantation genetic diagnosis pgd at the genetic and developmental medicine clinic sultan qaboos university hospital squh in oman
topic Genetic Counselling
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/23776
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