Impact of a Counseling-Based Intervention Program on Enhancing Adolescents' Awareness and Risk Perception Toward Consanguineous Marriage at Kafr El-Sheikh, and El-Gharbia Governorates, Egypt

Ebrahim El-Nagar, Anaam; Gamal Mohamed Ali, Manar; Mohamed Hassan Eltelt, Rasha

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2025.466187

Impact of a Counseling-Based Intervention Program on Enhancing Adolescents' Awareness and Risk Perception Toward Consanguineous Marriage at Kafr El-Sheikh, and El-Gharbia Governorates, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

² Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecological Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Kafr Elsheikh University, Kafr Elsheikh, Egypt.

10.21608/ejhc.2025.466187

Abstract

Background: Consanguineous marriages increase the risk of genetic disorders and congenital anomalies in offspring due to the higher likelihood of inheriting identical recessive genes from both parents. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a counseling-based intervention program on enhancing adolescents' awareness and risk perception toward consanguineous marriage in Kafr El-Sheikh, and El-Gharbia Governorates, Egypt. Setting: The study was conducted at the faculties of nursing in Kafr El-Sheikh and El-Gharbia Governorates, Egypt. Sample: The subjects of the present study comprised 200 newly admitted adolescent students who were divided into 2 equal groups that consisted of 100 adolescents of both sexes for each group. Four tools for data collection: Tool I: consisted of two parts, part I: included socio-demographic characteristics, and part II: Adolescent students' knowledge about consanguineous marriage, Tools II: Adolescent students' attitudes toward the consanguineous marriage. Tools III: Risk perception of adolescent students according to the Health Belief Model (HBM). Tool IV: Adolescent students' satisfaction regarding counseling-based intervention program. Results: The study findings revealed that after implementation of counseling-based intervention program, the proportion of participants with good knowledge increased from 8.0% and 7.0% to 90.0% and 92.0%, respectively (p < 0.001). Positive attitudes rose from 13% to 94%, while misconceptions and negative beliefs markedly declined (p < 0.05). Risk perception improved substantially, with high perception increasing from 5% and 3% to 91% and 94% (p < 0.001). Additionally, 95% and 94% of adolescents expressed satisfaction with the program. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the counseling-based intervention program regarding consanguineous marriage significantly enhanced adolescents' awareness, corrected misconceptions, improved attitudes, increased risk perception, and achieved high satisfaction levels. Recommendations: continuous health educational campaigns should be carried out for adolescents in preparatory and secondary schools as well as universities to fill the gaps in their risk perception regarding consanguineous marriage.

Keywords