title: Attitude of Reproductive Healthcare Providers to Prenatal Diagnosis in a Low Resource Nigerian Setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prenatal diagnosis comprises all diagnostic modalities aimed at gaining information about the embryo or fetal wellbeing. It enables antenatal care tailored to the individual need(s) of the fetus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the knowledge, practice and prospect of prenatal diagnosis among reproductive health care providers in Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional descriptive study in which completely filled self-administered semi-structured questionnaires were retrieved from 182 reproductive healthcare providers at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA). The questionnaires contained 17 items covering the socio-demographic data, knowledge, practice and prospects of prenatal diagnosis among the respondents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 179 respondents (98.4%) were aware of the prenatal diagnosis. One hundred and sixty four (90.1%) of the respondents agreed that, prenatal diagnostic services is offered in the study centre and 97% of these respondents cited ultrasound scan as the prenatal diagnostic investigation. While 133 respondents (73.1%) would allow parents to decide the next line of action after due counseling for the diagnosis of a condition not compatible with extrauterine life was made, 23(12.6%) of the respondents would offer termination of the pregnancy. Among the respondents, 173(95.1%) would encourage prenatal diagnosis at the study centre and 153(88.4%) of the 173 respondents would do so by educating the populace on the benefits of the procedure. However, 2(1.1%) of the respondent would not encourage the practice of prenatal diagnosis in FETHA citing adverse effects on the woman and her fetus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reproductive healthcare providers in Abakaliki have a high level of awareness and favorable disposition to prenatal diagnosis. However, prenatal diagnosis is still rudimentary in this environment.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria , Enugu, Nigeria .
authors.forename: Leonard Ogbonna
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Ajah
authors.affiliation: Senior Registrar, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital , Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Nigeria .
authors.forename: Silas Alegu
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nwali
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria , Enugu, Nigeria .
authors.forename: Christopher Chim
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Amah
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria , Enugu, Nigeria .
authors.forename: Theophilus Ogochukwu
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Nwankwo
authors.affiliation: Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital , Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Nigeria .
authors.forename: Lucky Osaheni
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Lawani
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria , Enugu, Nigeria .
authors.forename: Benjamin Chukwuma
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ozumba
keywords: Fetal congenital abnormalities; Nigeria; Prenatal testing