Ninety-three per cent of all pregnant women in Denmark choose to be screened for Down's syndrome and other chromosome defects in the foetus with a nuchal translucency scan. Around five per cent are told that the foetus has an increased risk of Down's syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities, and most choose to have a Placental biopsy done to definitely disprove or confirm the suspicion of a chromosome defect.

Previous research has indicated that the technological possibilities available to examine foetus may mean that pregnant women put their pregnancy on mental stand-by or perceive the foetus as potentially ill until proven otherwise. However, anthropologist Stina Lou did not find signs of this in her recently defended PhD dissertation "Managing high risk at first trimester prenatal screening":

"The pregnant women I interviewed tell of how happy they were to see the foetus at the ultrasound examination and of the love and bond they feel for the tiny life they carry in their stomach. While waiting for the final results, they really try to keep hoping for the best. And good communication with the staff really means a lot here."

Increased risk is seen as a “bump” in the road

Doubts regularly surface about whether these “false” screening results affect the pregnant women during the subsequent pregnancy, but the new research shows that the women do indeed become very concerned, but also that this concern disappears if the new tests disprove the suspicion.

"Good and positive communication and fast answers mean that the pregnant women easily return to a normal pregnancy. Several of the pregnant women and couples describe the increased risk in the screening result and subsequent examinations as a 'bump' on the road or a 'detour', but none of the participants regret participating in the screening and everyone expects to accept the offer of a screening in new pregnancies,” says Stina Lou.

Good communication supports an informed choice

Stina Lou observed more than 400 nuchal translucency scans at Aarhus University Hospital and followed the communication between healthcare professionals and the expectant parents who were informed of the increased risk.

"They are really concerned but are generally very satisfied with the way the staff help them to handle the situation," says Stina Lou. She also says that the PhD study is also of interest to healthcare professionals who want to reflect over how they communicate about risks and how they can best support couples in making informed choices.

Facts:

• 93 per cent of pregnant women choose to undergo screening for chromosome abnormalities
• Five per cent, corresponding to 3,000 pregnant women, are told that their that foetus has an increased risk
• Following further tests, 5-10 per cent of these women are informed that their foetus has a chromosome abnormality

Further information:

PhD, Anthropologist Stina Lou
Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region and Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Tel.: +45 7841 4364
Mobile: +45 2276 2629
Stina.Lou@stab.rm.dk