Men's Knowledge About Maternal Serum Screening for Down Syndrome and their Attitude Towards Amniocentesis

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess (i) the impact of screening consultation on male partner's knowledge about second trimester maternal serum screening for Down syndrome and on their attitudes toward amniocentesis, and (ii) the concomitant effect of men's involvement in pregnancy on both knowledge and attitudes. The study included 164 men who accompanied their partners to the screening appointment. Knowledge Questionnaire and Partner's Involvement in Pregnancy Scale with two dimensions, support and distance, were administered. Involvement in pregnancy was determined using two factors; support and distance. Findings revealed a significant post-consultation improvement in men's knowledge about the test, but less-educated men and those who were more distanced from partner and pregnancy were less knowledgeable even post-consultation. Compared to before the consultation, most men had a positive attitude toward amniocentesis and were willing to suggest it to their partners in case of positive test results (77 % and 42 %, respectively). The remainder would either leave the decision to their partners (20 %) or were undecided (3 %). Higher perception of distance was associated with men's unwillingness to be involved in amniocentesis decisions, particularly before consultation. However, the consultation had considerable potential to engage men with this attitude in the decision-making process. The study highlights the need to change woman-oriented prenatal screening practices for Down syndrome to involve their male partners in the consultation.

Balancing Needs and Autonomy: The Involvement of Pregnant Women’s Partners in Decisions About cfDNA

“…Participants in this study expressed the importance of having the chance to consider the impact of engaging in prenatal genetic testing on the pregnancy and, ultimately, their lives if the decision was made to continue or end a pregnancy identified with a fetal anomaly. This trend is similar to that seen for decisions about the use of conventional serum screens (Wätterbjörk et al, 2015;Williams et al, 2011), chorionic villus sampling, or amniocentesis (Brajenović-Milić & Dorčić, 2017;Werner-Lin et al, 2016).…”

“Yeah that Made a Big Difference!”: The Importance of the Relationship between Health Professionals and Fathers Who Have a Child with Down Syndrome

“…Overall fathers suggested that they felt neglected in their interactions with health professionals and would have benefitted from greater efforts to include them. This would support the call for changes to female-orientated prenatal and postnatal services (Brajenović-Milić and Dorčić 2016).…”