title: Newborn bloodspot screening for cystic fibrosis: What do antenatal and postnatal women know about cystic fibrosis?
abstract: The Republic of Ireland has one of the highest reported incidences of cystic fibrosis (CF) in the world (1/1353) with an estimated carrier rate of 1/20. No cure exists, however there have been significant advances in available treatments. Newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) for CF was added to the NBS programme in Ireland in July 2011. Little is known about antenatal or postnatal women's knowledge about CF.
  
  
  
  This was a cross-sectional study of 662 antenatal (≥36weeks gestation) and 480 postnatal women (post NBS). Women were asked to self-complete a questionnaire including 14 CF knowledge questions.
  
  
  
  Among the respondents significantly more postnatal than antenatal women were aware that CF is included on the NBS (81.8% vs 63.5%; p<0.001). 92.7% believe that there are health consequences to being a carrier and 33.6% believe there is a cure for CF. In the multivariate analysis, lower educational status (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.31, 3.46) being an antenatal mother (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.04, 2.18), having no family history of CF (OR 5.82; 95% CI 1.62, 20.90) were associated with poor CF knowledge, while increasing age was found to be protective against poor CF knowledge (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.92, 0.99).
  
  
  
  Results from this study provide a useful insight into women's preexisting knowledge about CF, which could be used to inform initial discussions with parents about their child's diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: catherine.fitzgerald.2@ucdconnect.ie.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Limerick, Ireland; Graduate Entry Medical School and Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation & Immunity (4i), University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linnane
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heery
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Conneally
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008487:Medical History Taking; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Maternal knowledge; Newborn bloodspot screening