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. 2015;6(1):5-20.
doi: 10.1080/23294515.2014.994722.

"Don't Want No Risk and Don't Want No Problems": Public Understandings of the Risks and Benefits of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing in the United States

Megan Allyse  1 , Lauren Carter Sayres  2 , Taylor Goodspeed  3 , Marsha Michie  1 , Mildred K Cho  4
Affiliations

"Don't Want No Risk and Don't Want No Problems": Public Understandings of the Risks and Benefits of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing in the United States

Megan Allyse et al. AJOB Empir Bioeth. 2015.

Abstract

Background: The recent availability of new non-invasive prenatal genetic tests for fetal aneuploidy has raised questions concerning whether and how these new tests will be integrated into prenatal medical care. Among the many factors to be considered are public understandings and preferences about prenatal testing mechanisms and the prospect of fetal aneuploidy.

Methods: To address these issues, we conducted a nation-wide mixed-method survey of 2,960 adults in the United States to explore justifications for choices among prenatal testing mechanisms. Open responses were qualitatively coded and grouped by theme.

Results: Respondents cited accuracy, followed by cost, as the most significant aspects of prenatal testing. Acceptance of testing was predicated on differing valuations of knowledge and on personal and religious beliefs. Trust in the medical establishment, attitudes towards risk, and beliefs about health and illness were also considered relevant.

Conclusions: Although a significant portion of the sample population valued the additional accuracy provided by the new non-invasive tests, they nevertheless expressed concerns over high costs. Furthermore, participants continued to express reservations about the value of prenatal genetic information per se, regardless of how it was obtained.

Keywords: Aneuploidy; Prenatal Screening; Prenatal Testing; Public Attitudes.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Descriptions provided to participants of trisomy 13, 18 and 21
Figure 2
Figure 2
Descriptions provided to participants of Tests 1, 2, and 3
Figure 3
Figure 3
Frequency of codes from open-ended response questions
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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