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Women’s Perception and Knowledge of Prenatal Screening for Fetal Trisomy - 2020

Study number (SN): 0078-00

CITATION

ABOUT THE STUDY

Data Creators:

Keelin O’Donoghue Pregnancy Loss Research Group and INFANT Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Cork University Maternity Hospital.

Sara Leitao, National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Cork University Maternity Hospital

Data Collector:

Kristin Kelly, Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Cork University Maternity Hospital

Sara Leitao (NPEC): Data analysis and management support
Sarah Meaney (NPEC): Questionnaire development assistance
Keeling O’Donoghue (Pregnancy Loss Research Group, INFANT Research Centre): Principal Investigator, research project conception, questionnaire development

Objective: Multiple non-invasive tests are available to screen for the risk of fetal trisomy, however, there is no national prenatal screening programme in Ireland. This study aimed to analyse women’s opinions on availability, cost, and knowledge of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for fetal aneuploidy.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire on knowledge of prenatal screening tests and attitudes to termination of pregnancy was developed and distributed to women attending antenatal clinics at a tertiary hospital. Descriptive analyses and chi-squared tests were completed.

Conclusions: While Irish women have good overall understanding of screening test interpretation, most were unaware of screening options. A national prenatal screening programme, including education on fetal aneuploidy, should be established.

MAIN TOPICS

• Health Screening

• Antenatal Diagnostic Tests

COVERAGE, UNIVERSE, METHODOLOGY

Population

Pregnant women, over 18 years old, attending public and private antenatal clinics at Cork University Maternity Hospital.

Observation units

• Individuals

Temporal coverage

From 09/2020 to 03/2020

Time dimension

Cross-sectional one-time study.

Geographical coverage

Country: Ireland
Region: South/Southeast
County: Cork
Town: Cork City

Methods of data collection

• PAPI (Paper and Pencil Interviewing): Self-completion (distributed by post, email or other)

Sampling procedures

All pregnant women, over 18 years old, who attended the public and private antenatal clinics at Cork University Maternity Hospital from September to October 2020 were eligible to participate in this study. In the public clinics, women were approached Monday through Friday in 07-18 September 2020 from 9 am to 12 pm. While in the private clinics, women were approached, from 07 September to 02 October 2020. All women who registered for their appointments were approached about the study while in the waiting room. Women were verbally informed about the study and offered the participant information leaflet and participant invitation letter. Women were informed that they were able to withdraw from the study at any time until their questionnaire was submitted to the collection box

Analysis

Data collected from the questionnaire was entered into Microsoft Excel and reviewed three times to ensure correct transcription of answers. Data was then transferred into SPSS v26 for statistical analysis, with descriptive analysis on: participant characteristics, knowledge on non-invasive prenatal testing and perceptions of screening programmes, factors influencing screening programmes and their uptake, preferences for prenatal screening, perceptions on TOP. Chi-square tests analysed the association between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge on NIPT and Down Syndrome.

Response rate

Four hundred twelve women were approached to participate in the study. Eighty-nine percent (367/412) agreed to take the survey, with an 80.6% (332/412) response rate. Of the 52 (12.4%) women who did not participate, 12 indicated insufficient English language skills to understand the survey, two reported they were unable to read, declining the offer to have the survey read to them, and two did not want to discuss fetal anomalies while in their third trimester. The remaining 36 did not specify a reason for refusal. There were no surveys excluded due to the level of incompleteness.

DATA AND DOCUMENTATION: FILES’ DESCRIPTION

Data (available through ISSDA application process)

Documentation (available for download) 

ACCESS INFORMATION

Accessing the data

To access the data, please complete the ISSDA Data Request Form for Research Purposes - Pseudonymised Datasets sign it, and send it to ISSDA by email.

Data will be disseminated on receipt of a fully completed, signed form. Incomplete or unsigned forms will be returned to the data requester for completion.

Copyright

Copyright of the dataset is held by Keelin O’Donoghue and Sara Leitao

Acknowledgements

Any work based in whole or part on resources provided by the ISSDA, should  acknowledge: “Women’s Perception and Knowledge of Prenatal Screening for Fetal Trisomy (WPKPSFT) - 2020." and also ISSDA, in the following way: “Accessed via the Irish Social Science Data Archive - www.ucd.ie/issda”.

Citation requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical citation

Women’s Perception and Knowledge of Prenatal Screening for Fetal Trisomy (WPKPSFT) - 2020. (2022). [dataset]. Version 1. Irish Social Science Data Archive. SN: 0078-00. www.ucd.ie/issda/data/WPKPSFT

Notification

The user shall notify the Irish Social Science Data Archive of all publications where she or he has used the data.