Different Perceptions and Attitudes regarding Prenatal Testing among Service Providers and Consumers in Israel

Vol. 10, No. 4, 2007

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Original Paper

Different Perceptions and Attitudes regarding Prenatal Testing among Service Providers and Consumers in Israel
Anat Mishori Dery^{a, b}, Rivka Carmi^{a, c}, Ilana Shoham Vardi^b

^aGenetics Institute, Soroka University Medical Center, and
^bDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation,
^cFaculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Address of Corresponding Author

Community Genet 2007;10:242-251 (DOI: 10.1159/000106563)

Key Words

Consumer preferences
Health care providers
Prenatal diagnosis

Abstract

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 multivariable 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.

Author Contacts

Anat Mishori Dery
Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Beer-Sheva 84105 (Israel)
Tel. +972 8 647 7451, Fax +972 8 647 7638, E-Mail anatm@bgu.ac.il

Article Information

This study was partially funded by the Israel National Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research.

Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 37

Medline Abstract (ID 17895630)

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Public Health Genomics
is the continuation of
Community Genetics

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