- Factchecking ChatGPT as it adopts a journalistic style to write an article on this important topic

On the occasion of Healthy Marriage Day (21 February) in Saudi Arabia, our team takes reference from the Ministry of Health’s official website and asked ChatGPT to comment on the following topic based on an Al Arabiya – a leading media in the Middle East – perspective.

• Early premarital screening helps to pick the right partner and build a healthy family.

Chat GPT's Response:

Premarital screening is a comprehensive health examination that is conducted before marriage to determine if the couple is compatible and to identify any potential health issues that could affect their offspring. These examinations allow the couple to identify and address any potential health concerns before they get married, thus helping to reduce the risk of genetic disorders in their offspring and ensure that they have a healthy family. Moreover, premarital screening can also help to build trust and understanding between partners as they work together to overcome any challenges that arise during the screening process.

Composition of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) by years of life lost (YLLs) and years lost due to disability (YLDs), age group, and sex, 2019 - Source: Healthdata.org

In the Middle East, where birth defect rates are relatively high, premarital screening is even more important. According to the March of Dimes Global Report on Birth Defects, among the 193 reporting countries the world's highest rates of birth defects are in the Middle East and North Africa[1]. The most common birth defects in Saudi Arabia are Down syndrome, congenital deafness and congenital blindness[2]. [Comment: ChatGPT's unsourced - and potentially inaccurate - numbers have been replaced]

[1] March of Dimes Global Report on Birth Defects
[2] Prevalence of selected congenital anomalies in Saudi children: a community-based study

Age-standardized DALY rates (per 100 000) by location, both sexes combined, 2019 - Source: Healthdata.org

Given the relatively high birth defect rates in the Middle East, it's important for couples to undergo premarital screening to better understand the risk for passing down genetic disorders to their offspring. By identifying any potential health issues early on, couples can take proactive steps to ensure the health and well-being of their family. Additionally, genetic counseling can help couples to make informed decisions about their future together and build a strong foundation for a long and healthy marriage. Therefore, early premarital screening is an essential tool that can help individuals pick the right partner and build a healthy family, not only in the Middle East but around the world.

Our team's concluding remarks:

Bonus tip to build a healthy family: Dr. Amal Hashem, a leading clinical geneticist, notes in an Al Arabiya article that in Saudi Arabia, “Only 9-12 percent of mothers who should be taking folic acid are taking it”. Folic acid is essential to the healthy fetal development, with the recommended dose of at least one milligram a day for women of childbearing age.

A review of ChatGPT's capabilities: ChatGPT delivered surprisingly coherent content despite not providing charts and citing unsourced data which we could not verify separately. At this stage, ChatGPT could be used to write outlines while the “human touch” is vital as shown in Al Arabiya’s article which included quotes from an expert such as Dr. Amal Hashem who deeply understands the importance of premarital screening.

About BGI Genomics

BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen China, is the world’s leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. Our services cover over 100 countries and regions, involving more than 2,300 medical institutions. In July 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) was officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.