Assessment of Neonatal Screening Program over 5 years in Karbala Governorate

Objectives: To assess the program applied at Karbala Health Directorate, and to estimate the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria and galactosemia in Karbala. A cross-sectional study that involves all newborn below than 1month underwent screening from the beginning of program at the first of April 2013 to 31 of March 2018 (5 years). Including all 4 health districts which belongs to Karbala Health Directorate. By reviewing of their records and screening results and further analyzing the data. The coverage rate of the program was 71.7%. The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism was 1: 1538 and male to female ratio was 1.1: 1, the incidence of phenylketonuria was1: 7692 and incidence of galactosemia was 1: 9345. And the positive predictive value of congenital hypothyroidism was 40.8%, for phenylketonuria was 51.8%, was 8%for galactosemia. The program important and effective and need to be expanded to cover all Iraq. However, the coverage rate in Karbala Health Directorate was suboptimal compared to the international standard as well as the overall results of screening test, age of screening sampling, lab performance and fallow up were below the international standard.