title: Knowledge, beliefs, and decisions of pregnant Australian women concerning donation and storage of umbilical cord blood: a population-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many women giving birth in Australian hospitals can choose to donate their child's umbilical cord blood to a public cord blood bank or pay to store it privately. We conducted a survey to determine the proportion and characteristics of pregnant women who are aware of umbilical cord blood (UCB) banking and who have considered and decided about this option. The survey also sought to ascertain information sources, knowledge, and beliefs about UCB banking, and the effect of basic information about UCB on decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Researchers and hospital maternity staff distributed a survey with basic information about UCB banking to 1,873 women of at least 24 weeks' gestation who were attending antenatal classes and hospital clinics in 14 public and private maternity hospitals in New South Wales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most respondents (70.7%) were aware of UCB banking. Their main information sources were leaflets from hospital clinics, print media, antenatal classes, TV, radio, friends, and relatives. Knowledge about UCB banking was patchy, and respondents overestimated the likelihood their child would need or benefit from UCB. Women who were undecided about UCB banking were younger, less educated, or from ethnic or rural backgrounds. After providing basic information about UCB banking, the proportion of respondents who indicated they had decided whether or not to donate or store UCB more than doubled from 30.0 to 67.7 percent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basic information for parents about UCB banking can affect planned decisions about UCB banking. Information should be accurate and balanced, should counter misconceptions, and should target specific groups.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher F C
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Jordens
authors.forename: Ian H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kerridge
authors.forename: Cameron L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Michelle A C
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nassar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D011295:Prenatal Care; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Antenatal care; Australia; New South Wales; blood banks; health information