Journal
GENETIC TESTING
Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages 131-138Publisher
MARY ANN LIEBERT INC
DOI: 10.1089/gte.2006.10.131
Keywords
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Funding
- NICHD NIH HHS [N01-HD-4-3201, N01-HD-4-3202, N01-HD-4-3204, N01-HD-4-3203] Funding Source: Medline
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This study examined whether psychosocial variables predict pregnant women's attitudes toward maternal serum screening and invasive diagnostic testing, beyond the influence of traditional obstetric risk status ( based on advanced maternal age, history of genetic disorders, etc.). In a sample of 612 pregnant women ( 66.5% high risk, 33.5% low risk) we assessed responses to hypothetical scenarios of invasive testing following normal or abnormal maternal serum screening. We also assessed psychosocial variables stemming from the theory of planned behavior ( e. g., knowledge, concern for fetus, attitudes toward termination, health locus of control). Overall, two thirds of the women would want serum screening. Follow- up invasive diagnostic testing would be sought by 37.2% of the women after a negative screening, and by 75.0% after a positive screening. As expected, traditional risk status predicted desire for screening and also invasive testing following either a negative or positive screen. Yet, controlling for risk status, many psychosocial variables predicted a women's interest in screening and in invasive testing: more knowledge about prenatal testing, concern about fetal health, willingness to terminate a pregnancy, and an internal or medical profession health locus of control. We conclude that psychosocial variables influence women's desire for screening or invasive testing beyond traditional risk status.
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