Wel of geen prenatale screening naar aangeboren afwijkingen?

Prenatal screening for Down syndrome has become standard practice in many western countries. In the Netherlands, however, prenatal screening tests for congenital defects are not offered routinely. The present study aims to assess test uptake in a large, unselected population of pregnant women, and to give more insight into the decision for or against prenatal screening through nuchal translucency measurement or maternal serum screening. Of the women being offered prenatal screening, 46% accepted the test offer. Test uptake was significantly lower for women who reported being more actively religious, and for women who were highly educated. The main reason for accepting was 'gaining knowledge about the health of the foetus/curiosity'. The main reasons for declining were 'unfavourable characteristics of the screening test' and 'anxiety/uncertainty'.