Table I.
Responses and response options to the questions “What do you think of prenatal screening?” and “What do you think about prenatal diagnostic tests?”
| Type of test | Response options provided | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Screening testsa | I think it is a good thing that prenatal screening is available. It helps people to find out about the chance that their pregnancy is affected with Down syndrome. | 51 (57) |
| I think it is a bad thing that prenatal screening is available. It makes people very anxious without telling them for sure whether or not the child will have Down syndrome. | 17 (19) | |
| I think it is a bad thing that prenatal screening is available. I feel its’ only purpose is to allow people to terminate pregnancies that are affected with Down syndrome. | 21 (23) | |
| I am not sure what I think about prenatal screening tests for Down syndrome. | 10 (11) | |
| Diagnostic testsb | I think it is a good thing that prenatal diagnostic tests are available. They help people to find out for sure whether or not their pregnancy is affected with Down syndrome, and allow them to make decisions about whether or not to continue with the pregnancy based on that information | 46 (51) |
| I think it is a good thing that prenatal diagnostic tests are available. They help people to find out for sure whether or not their pregnancy is affected with Down syndrome, and can allow people more time to prepare themselves to care for a child with Down syndrome. | 24 (28) | |
| I think it is a bad thing that prenatal diagnostic tests are available. I feel their only purpose is to enable people to terminate pregnancies that are affected with Down syndrome. | 20 (23) | |
| I am not sure what I think about prenatal diagnostic tests for Down syndrome. | 11 (13) |
Note: The percentages in this table do not equal 100% and the numbers in this table appear different to those presented in the text as a result of the fact that some individuals chose more than one option, holding both positive and negative attitudes towards testing depending on circumstance. With respect to prenatal screening, 2 participants felt this was both a good thing and a bad thing when the reason is to terminate. Similarly with respect to diagnostic testing, 5 participants felt that it was both a good thing if it helps parents prepare or make decisions, and a bad thing if used to terminate. Some participants also chose more than one option related to the same attitude, for example, eight participants felt that diagnostic testing is a good thing as it helps with making decisions and it helps with preparing. Similarly, 8 participants felt that prenatal screening tests were bad because they can induce anxiety and results could be used as a reason to terminate.
The following definition for prenatal screening tests was provided at the top of the page on which the participants’ opinions about them were sought: Prenatal screening tests: These do NOT provide definite yes or no answers about whether or not a baby has Down syndrome. Screening tests give an estimate of the chance that the baby is affected. For example, someone may get an estimated chance of 1/150 of having a child with Down syndrome. Examples of screening tests for Down syndrome that can be done during pregnancy include the triple marker screen (blood test), or a special kind of ultrasound.
The following definition for prenatal diagnostic tests was provided at the top of the page on which the participants’ opinions about them were sought: Prenatal Diagnostic Tests: These provide definite yes or no answers about whether a baby has Down syndrome. Examples of diagnostic tests for Down syndrome that can be done during pregnancy include amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS).