Abstract
Background: Pre-marital screening programme is aimed at reducing the incidence of
hereditary and sexually transmitted diseases in the society. The study was carried out to
determine the types of tests done by churches in Oredo LOA, Benin City.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among all the 140 churches
in Ihogbe and Ogbe quarters in Oredo LOA of Benin-City, Nigeria.
Result: Out of a total of 140 churches studied through their church leaders, all of them
requested for HIV screening (100%), Haemoglobin genotype (100%), and ABO blood
group (100%) tests. 94.3% (132) and 4.3% (6) required pregnancy tests and hepatitis B
screening test, respectively before solemnizing marriage.
Conclusion: There should be training and capacity building for religious leaders, to
appropriately manage issues concerning pre-marital screening.