Prenatal screening for chromosome abnormalities in a region with no access to termination of pregnancy

CYNTHIA I. PAOLINI, ANDREA GADOW, FLORENCIA PETRACCHI, LAURA IGARZABAL, ROBERTO QUADRELLI, ENRIQUE C. GADOW

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS

Wiley - InterScience

Año: 2009 vol. 29 p. 659 - 663

0197-3851

OBJECTIVE To analyze the different variables that affect couple´s decision-making about prenatal screening of chromosome abnormalities in a population with limited access to prenatal diagnosis and no legal TOP. METHODS From February through August 2004, 79 couples that requested for prenatal screening at centers from Argentina and Uruguay, participated in a survey. Data about attitude toward prenatal screening were analyzed according to sociodemographic variables, perception of prenatal screening, decision-making process, and disposition to TOP. RESULTS Mean maternal age was 32.8±0.4 years. The rate of previous miscarriage was 25%. Among the couples herein included, 88.61% knew that TOP due to fetal anomalies is not legal in their countries. When asked about the possibility of TOP in case of a serious fetal anomaly, 53% would contemplate this option. CONCLUSION Prenatal screening is becoming a more common practice worldwide. However, unlike most developed countries, our region has a limited access to prenatal diagnosis and no legal TOP. Those women who stated that “reassurance about fetal well-being” was the most important reason to perform prenatal screening had more disposition to TOP than those who considered this screening important “to be better prepared to receive the baby”. This should address the revision of health care policies.