Attitudes among Danes toward prenatal testing and termination of pregnancy

Abstract

Denmark offers public financed prenatal testing (PNT) to all pregnant women, but results are typically not available until after 12 weeks gestation, which is also the time limit for termination of pregnancy (TOP) on request. Committees decide on requests for later TOP. In a questionnaire survey, we investigated attitudes among Danes toward these issues. We also asked for opinions on two claims commonly found in the debate concerning women's right to decide on TOP in relation to PNT. One thousand people aged 18-45 years were drawn randomly from the national personal register. The response rate was 49%. Women and older respondents were overrepresented and may have caused a bias toward conservative attitudes. A majority supported the current PNT program and time limit for TOP on request, but only one-third supported committees deciding on all cases of late TOP. The implications of prenatal testing results becoming more accessible are discussed.

Attitudes among Danes toward termination of pregnancy for social reasons and fetal abnormality

“…The questionnaire also contained questions regarding attitudes toward the current time limit for TOP on request, the prenatal testing program and official committees deciding on late requests for TOP. These results have been presented elsewhere …”

“…These results have been presented elsewhere. 9 The first case concerns a young girl who requests TOP in week 8 gestation. The second portrays a middle-aged mother of two living in poor social and economic conditions and accidentally becomes pregnant with her husband.…”

Attitudes to prenatal screening among Norwegian citizens: liberality, ambivalence and sensitivity

“…Comparison with other countries is not straightforward as the few in-depth studies published have typically used different questions and formats. A Danish study from 2009-10 found that 65% supported publically funded prenatal diagnosis for all, whereas 31% would reserve the offer for groups at heightened risk only (as per the present Norwegian system) [ 9 ]. Only 2% rejected public financing, and apparently no respondents wanted prenatal diagnosis to become illegal.…”

How Danes evaluate moral claims related to abortion: a questionnaire survey

“…The questionnaire contained questions on maternal requests for abortion, the current abortion regulation and the Danish prenatal testing programme 4 5. Sociodemographic variables were ascertained at the end of the questionnaire (table 1).…”

“…In comparison, little research has attempted to uncover lay people's attitude towards such moral issues. Recently, a questionnaire survey addressing attitudes among Danish citizens towards various scenarios of maternal requests for abortion was reported 4 5. The aim of the present study was to examine a part of the questionnaire that asked questions about moral claims pertinently related to abortion.…”