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High Prevalence of Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns in East Malaysia: Challenges in Providing Effective Health Care for an Indigenous Group

Journal article published in 2010 by Chui Wee Yong, Jin-Ai Mary Anne Tan, Ping-Chin Lee, Yong-Chui Wee, Lian Tan Kim, Kim-Lian Tan, Noor Fadzlin Mahali, Elizabeth George, Kek-Heng Chua ORCID, Heng Chua Kek
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

Thalassemia can lead to severe transfusion-dependent anemia, and it is the most common genetic disorder in Malaysia. This paper aims to determine the prevalence of thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns, the largest indigenous group in Sabah, East Malaysia. - and -thalassemia were confirmed in 33.6 and 12.8, of the individuals studied respectively. The high prevalence of - and -thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns indicates that thalassemia screening, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnosis should be included as part of their healthcare system. This preliminary paper serves as a baseline for further investigations into the health and genetic defects of the major indigenous population in Sabah, East Malaysia. © 2010 Jin-Ai Mary Anne Tan et al.