Attitudes towards routine prenatal diagnostic investigations in obstetric practice in the Republic of Ireland

The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of pregnant women towards prenatal diagnosis in the Republic of Ireland. A questionnaire was administered to all women attending the antenatal clinic at University College Hospital, Galway between January and May 1999. 1042 women participated in the study and 1012 (97%) questionnaires were completed correctly. The majority of women, 763 (75.4%) and 748 (73.9%) respectively, would avail of a fetal anomaly scan or biochemical screening if available. However, confusion exists about the purpose of ultrasound scans currently available. The majority of respondents (71%) thought that the purpose of the currently available scan was to detect fetal abnormality. In reality, the primary purpose of the scan currently available is for other purposes and the detection of fetal abnormality is performed opportunistically rather than systematically. This confusion may reflect poor provision of information to our antenatal patients and should be addressed within by the obstetric service.