Attitudes to prenatal testing and termination of pregnancy in Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the attitudes of Saudi parents towards prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy for a range of different genetic disorders.


METHODS
Two hundred Saudi parents (100 fathers and 100 mothers) completed a structured questionnaire which sought their views about each of 30 different conditions.


RESULTS
The great majority of people would consider a termination of pregnancy for at least one of the conditions studied. Mothers and fathers held similar attitudes towards prenatal diagnosis, but mothers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy were more favourable. Parents' collective attitudes towards prenatal diagnosis and towards termination of pregnancy were correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
Saudi parents are favourably inclined towards prenatal diagnosis, and consider termination of pregnancy to be acceptable for some conditions. New technologies provide parents with more reproductive choices but also present them with more dilemmas.
Alsulaiman
Ayman
A
Department of Genetics, Research Centre, King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. asulaiman@kfshrc.edu.sa
Hewison
J
J
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires