Journal of American Science 2015;11(6) http://www.jofamericanscience.org 218 Premarital Genetic Counselling among Female Adolescents Students Hanan Abd Elfattah 1 , Saher M. Soliman 1 and Fatma M.Amin 2 1. Maternal and neonatal Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt 2. Pediatric Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Cairo, Egypt h.mahgoub@mu.edu.sa Abstract: Premarital genetic screening is one of the most important strategies for prevention of genetic disorders and congenital anomalies among adolescents. Genetic counseling has become a prominent feature in prevention and treatment of genetic diseases. Nurse play an integral role in providing genetic services that include assess genetic risk, provide information, discuss available testing options and provide appropriate supportive counseling. Aim: To evaluate the effect of premarital genetic counseling on the knowledge and attitudes among female adolescents' students as a quasi-experimental study design. Setting: Technical nursing students at Ain shams university Purposive sample of 100 unmarried female adolescents’ students will recruited from grades I of Technical nursing students at Ain shams university.Four types of tools will be used for data collection which are structured interviewing questionnaire, likert scale for students’ attitude towards premarital genetic screening, Counseling sessions and opinionnaire sheet. Results revealed that the majority of students had lack of knowledge and negative attitudes regarding premarital genetic counseling. Significant improvement was found regarding most items of knowledge and attitudes after implementation of counseling sessions. Conclusion: Significant improvement in students' knowledge and attitudes after implementation of counseling sessions. Recommendation: Involvement of community leaders and non-governmental organizations in counseling programs to youth toward premarital genetic counseling and marriage between genetically incompatible partners. [Hanan Abd Elfattah, Saher M. Soliman and Fatma M.Amin Premarital Genetic Counselling among Female Adolescents Students. J Am Sci 2015;11(6):218-225]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org . 25 Key words: Premarital, genetic, screening, counselling, Adolescents 1. Introduction: Adolescence is considered one of the crucial periods of life in between childhood and adulthood, which accompanied by a rapid increase in the rate of physical growth and changes involving physical and cognitive development. Many serious diseases in adulthood have their roots in adolescence. Adolescents are the first generation of adults to make decisions about a wide array of genetic testing for themselves and their families. They may have opportunities to participate in various types of genetic testing especially premarital genetic screening to avoid many diseases and complications arise (1). Genetic disorders and congenital abnormalities occur in about 2%-5% of all live births (2). Genetic disease affects as much as 5% of the world’s population constituting a major public health problem in many parts of the world (3). In KSA genetic disorders are very common and highly prevalent in the general population (4). According to the WHO, approximately 240 million people are heterozygous for inherited hemoglobinopathies, including thalassemia and sickle cell disease (5). These diseases are a major public health problem in the Mediterranean area, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, tropical Africa and the Caribbean. Saudi Arabia has a high prevalence of hereditary hemoglobin disorders (6). Therefore it is important to prevent this problem by early molecular diagnosis, genetic counseling and appropriate treatment (7). Genetic diseases are hereditary in nature. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is responsible for heredity in humans. DNA characteristically condenses to form chromosomes (8). There are 46 chromosomes in the nucleus of human cells arranged in 23 pairs. Each of the pairs consists of a chromosome of paternal origin and one of maternal origin. Each chromosome is made up of genes. Gene or set of genes control traits. The presence of defective gene in either parent and the probability of its transmission to the children can only be accessed through genetic testing (9). Therefore, information about couple’s predisposition to certain diseases and the likelihood of passing on those diseases to their unborn children is necessary before marriage is consummated (10) Genetic disorders runs in blood and this accounted for why if one parent has a genetic related disease, It is very likely that 50 percent of his or her children also will develop the disease (11). Genetic screening is a public health initiative that has been used interchangeably with genetic testing. Testing implies genetic test done on an individual basis while screening implies large scale. Genetic testing (also called DNA based tests) which involve direct examination of the DNA molecule itself. It allows for genetic diagnosis of those who are