First-trimester Down syndrome screening: pregnant women's knowledge

Area of Science:

• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Prenatal Diagnostics
• Public Health

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial for prenatal screening procedures.
• Understanding of Down syndrome screening varies among pregnant populations.
• First-trimester combined screening offers early detection opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pregnant women's knowledge of first-trimester combined Down syndrome screening.
• To identify knowledge disparities in subgroups based on information delivery methods.
• To assess comprehension in a setting with mandatory informed consent.

Main Methods:

• Population-based cross-sectional questionnaire study.
• 6427 first-trimester pregnant women surveyed across three Danish centers.
• Analysis of 4095 responses (64% completion rate) using chi-squared tests and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• High correct identification of the screening concept (87.6-92.6%) and Down syndrome as the target condition.
• Lower recognition of test accuracy (16.4-43.3%) and non-Down syndrome risks.
• Positive association between knowledge and higher education levels and screening program participation.

Conclusions:

• Pregnant women generally grasp the core concept of Down syndrome screening.
• Knowledge gaps exist regarding screening accuracy and potential adverse outcomes.
• Educational background and engagement with the screening program influence comprehension.