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Factors affecting the utilization of genetic counseling services among Israeli Arab women
Author(s) -
Sharkia Rajech,
Tarabeia Jalal,
Zalan Abdelnaser,
Atamany Esmael,
Athamna Muhammad,
AllonShalev Stavit
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.4550
Subject(s) - genetic counseling , religiosity , medicine , family medicine , abortion , pregnancy , multivariate analysis , ethnic group , service (business) , demography , psychology , social psychology , genetics , sociology , anthropology , biology , economy , economics
Objectives To assess the factors associated with utilization of genetic counseling services among pregnant Israeli Arab women. Methods A case–control study was conducted among 414 pregnant Arab women who were referred by a family physician or a perinatologist to genetic counseling services between 2008 and 2011. Data was collected using interviews, with both groups ‘users’ and ‘non‐users’ of genetic counseling, based on a structured questionnaire including demographic, socio‐economic, medical and cultural variables. Results In multivariate analysis, factors affecting women's utilization of genetic counseling service were high income level (OR 3.44, 95%CI 1.8–6.5, p < 0.001), high service accessibility (OR 0.75, 95%CI 0.67–0.84, p = 0.001), more positive attitude toward genetic counseling (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.27–0.67, p = 0.012) and lower religiosity level (OR 1.40, 95%CI 0.94–2.09, p = 0.04). However, when we examined the following variable: pregnant woman's age, woman's education, consanguinity and pregnancy' age, knowledge level and the perspective toward abortion, no significant differences were found between the users and non‐users groups .Conclusions The underutilization of genetic counseling services among pregnant Israeli Arab women was associated with the following: lower income level, attitude toward genetic counseling, accessibility to service and religiosity. Thus, it is advisable to expand genetic counseling service within this community. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.