Maternal serum screening for Down syndrome: a survey of pregnant women's views.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to assess women's self-reported awareness of Down syndrome before they became pregnant and after they were supposedly informed about screening. We investigated their understanding of the purpose of screening and what a high statistical risk for Down syndrome means, and if there was a high statistical risk whether they would undergo amniocentesis.


METHODS
Pregnant women (n=274) ranging from 17 to 43 years of age, with different educational backgrounds, were surveyed by means of a questionnaire which was given to them immediately before blood samples were taken.


RESULTS
Women without a college education were significantly less likely then those with a college education to be aware of Down syndrome prior to pregnancy. Many of them reported being unaware of it even after they had been counseled and tested. Women with a lower level of education were also significantly less likely to have a clear understanding of purpose of screening. Fewer than 0.7% of women who were tested said they were not prepared to undergo amniocentesis, and 47.1% said they would consider amniocentesis only after receiving the screening test result.


CONCLUSIONS
Procedures for education women prior to maternal screening must be provided.
Paravic
J
J
Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka.
Brajenovic-Milic
B
B
Tislaric
D
D
Kapovic
M
M
Botica
A
A
Jurcan
V
V
Milotti
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D017523:Croatia; D004314:Down Syndrome; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women