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Racial‐Ethnic Differences in Genetic Amniocentesis Uptake
Author(s) -
Saucier Jennifer B.,
Johnston Dennis,
Wicklund Catherine A.,
RobbinsFurman Patricia,
Hecht Jacqueline T.,
Monga Manju
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of genetic counseling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1573-3599
pISSN - 1059-7700
DOI - 10.1007/s10897-005-0641-5
Subject(s) - seriousness , amniocentesis , medicine , ethnic group , public health , population , genetic counseling , demographics , clinical psychology , demography , pregnancy , prenatal diagnosis , environmental health , genetics , nursing , fetus , biology , sociology , political science , anthropology , law
The objective of this study was to determine the role of health beliefs in genetic amniocentesis acceptance in a diverse racial‐ethnic population. Participants completed a previously‐validated questionnaire consisting of three sections: (1) demographics, (2) amniocentesis knowledge, and (3) health beliefs, which assessed perceived susceptibility, seriousness of potential impact, benefits of testing, and barriers to testing. The results showed that Hispanic women were less likely to accept amniocentesis (51.5% vs. Caucasian 82.8%, African American 82.9%, Asian 82.8%). Education level was the only demographic factor higher among acceptors. Women who accepted amniocentesis had higher perceived seriousness, susceptibility, and benefits HBM scores and higher knowledge scores than women who declined. HBM scores and knowledge predicted the amniocentesis decision correctly 91.5% of the time. Individual health beliefs and knowledge play a greater role in genetic amniocentesis acceptance than do demographic factors such as race‐ethnicity.