Preventing Genetic Diseases Through Genetic Counseling to Build a Harmonious Family: a Narrative Review

Abstract

Indonesia is a country that has complex genetic diversity which can be seen from the diversity of ethnicity, language, and culture that extends from various islands. Seeing this, it can be estimated that Indonesia also has a high number of genetic diseases. The aim of this study is to examine the use of genetic counseling as a preventive measure for genetic diseases in order to form a harmonious family. This study uses library research methods with content analysis techniques. The findings of this study are that genetic counseling is a process of communicating genetic disease problems so that they are conveyed properly to a family. The aim is to provide an understanding of the causes of genetic disease, how to reduce risk in the family, and the selection of optimal actions to overcome the disease. Genetic counseling is very important before marriage and can be part of premarital counseling. This is done so that the offspring produced later, are born in good and quality conditions in order to achieve a harmonious family.