Perspectives of pregnant women on broadening the scope of noninvasive prenatal testing from screening for foetal aneuploidies to prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: To explore the perspectives of pregnant women on broadening the scope of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) from screening for foetal aneuploidies to prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: Four online focus groups (n = 23 participants) and 14 individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Participants included pregnant women with and without a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Results: Both women at low and high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes had a positive attitude towards using NIPT to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. Perceived benefits included the possibility to potentially improve maternal and foetal outcomes by taking risk-reducing measures and/or intensified monitoring during pregnancy and the ability to mentally prepare for the potential adverse outcome. Perceived concerns included anxiety and stress caused by a high-risk test result, a false sense of control over pregnancy, and potential false reassurance. Additionally, women reasoned that broadening the scope of NIPT could increase the complexity of prenatal screening and raised concerns on the combined screening aims in one test (prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes to improve foetal and maternal health vs. screening for foetal aneuploidies to increase reproductive autonomy). On a societal level, considerations on the risk of medicalising pregnancy and overall pressure to opt for NIPT were mentioned.

Conclusion: In general, pregnant women have a positive attitude towards broadening the scope of NIPT to the prediction of pregnancy outcomes, although some concerns are acknowledged.