Community Genetics Services in Iran

As discussed earlier, due to the epidemiological transition caused by the success of programmes in the prevention and control of infectious diseases and the health of children and mothers over the past few decades, the burden of genetic and congenital disorders has proportionally increased in some of the low- and middle-income countries. In addition, although the hereditary diseases are mostly rare and the contribution of genetic factors are few in each disease, the overall contribution and total prevalence figures for the genetic and congenital disorders are considerably high. Development and management of community genetics programmes for the control of occurrence and prevention of congenital disorders and genetic diseases should, therefore, be among the priorities of the health system in those areas.