BMJ  2006;333 (21 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7573.0

Health burden of genetic disorders is high in the Arab world

Better prevention and control of genetic disorders is needed in Arab countries to reduce the high rates of infant mortality and morbidity and intellectual and physical handicap they cause. In their clinical review Al-Gazali and colleagues (p 831) suggest that consanguinity and large family size are mainly responsible for the high frequency of genetic disorders in these countries and that the barriers to developing effective services are not just financial but cultural, legal, and religious as well. Some countries have set up cost effective programmes for specific disorders that may lead to the development of similar services in other Arab countries.

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