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Maternal serum screening for Down syndrome: are women’s perceptions changing?
Article first published online: 9 MAR 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01266.x
RCOG 2007 BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Issue
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 114, Issue 4, pages 458–461, April 2007
Additional Information
How to Cite
Gidiri, M., McFarlane, J., Holding, S. and Lindow, S. (2007), Maternal serum screening for Down syndrome: are women’s perceptions changing?. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 114: 458–461. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01266.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 MAR 2007
- Article first published online: 9 MAR 2007
- Accepted 30 December 2006.
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Down's syndrome;
- epidemiology;
- pregnancy;
- screening uptake;
- serum screening
Objectives To document trends in serum screening for Down's syndrome.
Background Trends in the uptake of serum screening for Down syndrome have not been documented in a UK population.
Design A retrospective review of the rate of uptake in a unit that has offered serum screening for Down syndrome to all pregnant women.
Setting A large north of England hospital that has offered universal Down syndrome screening using the ‘triple test’ since 1992.
Patients A total of 47 998 women who booked for antenatal care.
Main outcome measures Uptake of serum screening for Down syndrome.
Methods The results of the screening programme were contemporaneously recorded on a computer database, and the study team accessed the data.
Results There was a significant reduction in the uptake of serum screening for Down syndrome from a maximum of 82.6% in 1993 to 41.4% in 2005. There was a significant but small trend upwards in the age of women accepting screening and also a significant trend in the increase in the screen-positive rates.
Conclusions The reduction in uptake of Down syndrome screening over the past 13 years must be taken into account when planning a screening programme. Other units should be encouraged to review their rate of uptake to determine if our data are representative of a wider trend.