A National Survey on Congenital Hypothyroidism Newborn Screening in Pakistan.

Abstract

Objective. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a treatable condition with a good outcome if diagnosed promptly. However, neonatal screening programs are not routinely available in developing countries in Pakistan. Method. To highlight the practices of newborn screening in Pakistan, an online survey was conducted. Google forms were circulated to national pediatric societies and hospitals. Results. Out of 341 respondents most were consultant pediatrician (n = 212, 62.17%) followed by residents (n = 80, 23.41%). Majority, (n = 309, 90.6%) believed it was essential to screen all newborns for CH. However, in practice only (n = 141, 41.3%) were offering screening. The most common reasons cited for not screening was the cost of test (n = 110, 32.2%), non-availability of testing services (n = 29, 8.5%) and lack of any implemented screening policies in the hospitals or national guidelines (n = 20, 5.8%). Differences in practice were also observed at provincial levels (P < .05). Conclusion. This survey highlights marked variation in CH newborn screening practices.