Background: Poor knowledge of genetic problems and its services, causing delayed
or inaccurate diagnosis for patients' conditions. Primary health care providers play a
vital role in early detection and proper management of it. Aim of the study: was to
assess the knowledge and attitudes of health care providers regarding genetic
problems at primary health care settings. Design: A descriptive research design was
used in this study. Settings: The current study was conducted at all Maternal and
Child Health Care Centers which are affiliated to Ministry of Health at Kafr Elsheikh
Governorate. Subjects: All primary health care providers (81physician and 286
nurse) who are working in previously mentioned settings were included in the current
study. Tool: A structured questionnaire which composed of four parts, Part1): Social
characteristics of primary health care providers. Part 2): Knowledge of health care
providers regarding genetic problems. Part 3): Attitudes of health care providers
regarding genetic problems. Part 4): Health care providers perceived barriers to
genetic services. Results: There were 87.7% of physicians and all of nurses had low
level of total knowledge regarding genetic problems, 96.3% of physicians and 87.1%
of nurses had positive attitude regarding genetic problems. Moreover, 59.4%& 29.4%
of the primary health care providers perceived high and moderate level of barriers
regarding genetic services respectively. Conclusion and recommendations: There
was a significant positive correlation between total knowledge score and total attitude
score, and significant negative correlation between total knowledge score and total
barrier score of the primary health care providers regarding genetic problems.
Therefore, health authorities should organize periodic genetic workshops and clinical
training programs for primary health care providers about genetic problems.