Turkish female immigrants' intentions to participate in preconception carrier screening for hemoglobinopathies in the Netherlands: an empirical study.
BACKGROUND
Preconception carrier screening for hemoglobinopathies (HbPs) is debated in the Netherlands.


OBJECTIVE
Intentions to participate in preconception carrier screening for HbPs as well as informed reproductive options were assessed in 109 Turkish female immigrants.


METHODS
Participants completed a structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
83.5% of 109 Turkish female immigrants intended to participate in preconception carrier screening. Intention to participate was related to the desire to reduce uncertainty about having offspring affected by HbPs, but not with socio-demographic variables, risk-estimation and worrying. If the tests concerning carrier status for HbPs were confirmative for both partners, 36.3% (n = 33) of the women with the intention of preconception carrier screening would refrain from getting children of their own, including 14.3% (n = 13) opting for adoption, 37.4% (n = 34) would decide to become pregnant and to opt for prenatal testing on HbPs. Finally, among 37.4% of the women opting for prenatal testing, 30.3% (n = 10) would terminate an affected pregnancy, 18.2% (n = 6) not and 51.5% (n = 17) could not decide (1 missing value).


CONCLUSIONS
A large majority of Turkish female immigrants would participate in preconception carrier screening for HbPs.
van Elderen
T
T
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Mutlu
D
D
Karstanje
J
J
Passchier
J
J
Tibben
A
A
Duivenvoorden
H J
HJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010358:Patient Participation; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult