Prenatal Ultrasound Screening and Women's Expectations: an Original Study.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Ethics
• Public Health

Background:

• Prenatal screening provides vital pregnancy information but can pose ethical dilemmas.
• Ultrasound screening during pregnancy is both important and challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Greek women's knowledge and expectations of prenatal ultrasound screening.
• To understand the factors influencing decisions regarding prenatal diagnostic tests.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study involving 300 pregnant women over 18 in Greece.
• Data collected on sociodemographics, obstetric history, and prenatal screening knowledge.

Main Results:

• Higher education levels correlated with greater perceived importance of prenatal screening for preventing/treating intrauterine diseases.
• Women with higher education were more likely to consider pregnancy termination for fetal abnormalities.

Conclusions:

• Pregnant women trust physicians for information on fetal well-being and view prenatal testing as essential.
• A significant association exists between higher educational attainment and increased utilization of prenatal screening.