Reproductive genetic testing from an international perspective: impact on women in underdeveloped countries

The impact of reproductive genetic testing (preconceptional and prenatal screening for genetic diseases) on women in the third world must take into account the many aspects that characterize underdevelopment: poverty; little access to education; housing; adequate nutrition; health services, and other. In these countries women usually suffer from male domination in a number of aspects of their lives, including reproduction. Illiteracy is high, particularly among women. Infant mortality and fertility rates are high, and the primary causes of death are infectious diseases and malnutrition. Health services are poorly organized, and family planning and prenatal care programs are deficient. Although abortions are illegal, they outnumber live births 3:1. Maternal mortality is 10-100 times higher than in industrialized nations, and complications of illegal abortions are one of its main causes. This description applies to the majority of the population and contrasts with that of the small segment of well-to-do upper classes, who have access to education, housing and health services that include family planning, prenatal care and reproductive genetic testing. By and large, all main cities count with clinical genetic centers. The illegality of abortion, however, makes prenatal testing in the public sector a difficult task, while in the private sector quality control is an unheard concept and the patients frequently fall victims of the entrepreneurial and commercial goals of the providers. For the majority of the population, the impact of reproductive genetic testing is almost nil, simply because the services are not available.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)