TY - JOUR
T1 - A cross-country comparison of pregnant women's decision-making and perspectives when opting for non-invasive prenatal testing in the Netherlands and Belgium
AU - Lannoo, Lore
AU - van der Meij, Karuna R M
AU - Bekker, Mireille N
AU - De Catte, Luc
AU - Deckers, Sarah
AU - Devriendt, Koenraad
AU - Roggen, Nele
AU - Galjaard, Robert-Jan H
AU - Gitsels-van der Wal, Janneke
AU - Macville, Merryn V E
AU - Martin, Linda
AU - Sistermans, Erik A
AU - Van Calsteren, Kristel
AU - Van Keirsbilck, Joachim
AU - Crombag, Neeltje
AU - Henneman, Lidewij
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - Background: The Netherlands and Belgium have been among the first countries to offer non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) as a first-tier screening test. Despite similarities, differences exist in counseling modalities and test uptake. This study explored decision-making and perspectives of pregnant women who opted for NIPT in both countries. Methods: A questionnaire study was performed among pregnant women in the Netherlands (NL) (n = 587) and Belgium (BE) (n = 444) opting for NIPT, including measures on informed choice, personal and societal perspectives on trisomy 21, 18 and 13 and pregnancy termination. Results: Differences between Dutch and Belgian women were shown in the level of informed choice (NL: 83% vs. BE: 59%, p < 0.001), intention to terminate the pregnancy in case of confirmed trisomy 21 (NL: 51% vs. BE: 62%, p = 0.003) and trisomy 13/18 (NL: 80% vs. BE: 73%, p = 0.020). More Belgian women considered trisomy 21 a severe condition (NL: 64% vs. BE: 81%, p < 0.001). Belgian women more frequently indicated that they believed parents are judged for having a child with trisomy 21 (BE: 42% vs. NL: 16%, p < 0.001) and were less positive about quality of care and support for children with trisomy 21 (BE: 23% vs. NL: 62%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Differences in women's decision-making regarding NIPT and the conditions screened for may be influenced by counseling aspects and country-specific societal and cultural contexts.
AB - Background: The Netherlands and Belgium have been among the first countries to offer non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) as a first-tier screening test. Despite similarities, differences exist in counseling modalities and test uptake. This study explored decision-making and perspectives of pregnant women who opted for NIPT in both countries. Methods: A questionnaire study was performed among pregnant women in the Netherlands (NL) (n = 587) and Belgium (BE) (n = 444) opting for NIPT, including measures on informed choice, personal and societal perspectives on trisomy 21, 18 and 13 and pregnancy termination. Results: Differences between Dutch and Belgian women were shown in the level of informed choice (NL: 83% vs. BE: 59%, p < 0.001), intention to terminate the pregnancy in case of confirmed trisomy 21 (NL: 51% vs. BE: 62%, p = 0.003) and trisomy 13/18 (NL: 80% vs. BE: 73%, p = 0.020). More Belgian women considered trisomy 21 a severe condition (NL: 64% vs. BE: 81%, p < 0.001). Belgian women more frequently indicated that they believed parents are judged for having a child with trisomy 21 (BE: 42% vs. NL: 16%, p < 0.001) and were less positive about quality of care and support for children with trisomy 21 (BE: 23% vs. NL: 62%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Differences in women's decision-making regarding NIPT and the conditions screened for may be influenced by counseling aspects and country-specific societal and cultural contexts.
KW - Belgium
KW - Child
KW - Down Syndrome/diagnosis
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Netherlands
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Pregnant Women
KW - Prenatal Diagnosis/psychology
KW - Trisomy 18 Syndrome/diagnosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148433562&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/pd.6329
DO - 10.1002/pd.6329
M3 - Article
C2 - 36740754
SN - 0197-3851
VL - 43
SP - 294
EP - 303
JO - Prenatal Diagnosis
JF - Prenatal Diagnosis
IS - 3
ER -