Different perceptions and attitudes regarding prenatal testing among service providers and consumers in Israel

Introduction: The increasing number of prenatal tests for fetal abnormalities calls for a prenatal care policy which will reflect not only medical values, but also the needs and attitudes of the services' consumers. Objectives: To compare attitudes of prenatal service consumers and providers regarding extent of prenatal testing and to evaluate these attitudes in relation to sociodemographic and professional characteristics. Methods: Women were interviewed by phone 5-8 weeks postpartum (n = 596) using a structured questionnaire. Health professionals (n = 351) completed a parallel questionnaire. Results: Health professionals were significantly more supportive of comprehensive prenatal testing than women (61.1 vs. 34.1%, respectively). In a multi-variable analysis, age over 35, Ashkenazi origin and being better informed regarding tests, predicted a preference for comprehensive testing among women. Among health professionals, predictors of that attitude were secularism and a paramedical profession. Conclusions: Providers and consumers of prenatal services differ in their perceptions and opinions. Policy makers should have mechanisms in place to properly represent this diversity. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.