Objectives: A national register of symptomatic hemoglobinopathies has been developed in Oman to facilitate the development of the National Program for the control of genetic blood disorders. Methods: The information was initially collected retrospectively through hospital records and was refined prospectively with data collected through a survey of pediatricians. The percentages of heterozygotes in different population groups and geographical locations, birth prevalence, age distribution of cases and factors determining frequencies of Hemoglobinopathies in different regions of the country were studied from the register. Results: The register has identified 1757 cases of homozygous Sickle Cell Anemia and 243 cases of b- From the Genetic Blood Disorders Unit, DGHA, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman (Rajab), the Department of Medical Genetics, St. George's Hospital Medical School, (Patton), and the UCL Department of Primary Care & Population Sciences, Whittington Campus (Modell), London, United Kingdom. Received 25th April 2000. Accepted for publication in final form 22nd August 2000. Address correspondence and reprint request to: Dr. A. Rajab, PO Box 880, Muscat 113, Sultanate of Oman. Tel. +968 600540. Fax. +968 707994. Email: drarajab@omantel.net.om thalassemia major in a population of 1.5 million in 1995. Register based national figures of heterozygote carriers approximate 10% for Sickle Cell Anemia and 4% for b- thalassemia major. Conclusion: Defining regional and tribal variations can assist efficient targeting of health resources. This approach provides a simple model for other countries or regions to follow providing there is a health care system that facilitates registration.

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