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Culture and Acculturation Influences on Palestinian Perceptions of Prenatal Genetic Counseling
Author(s) -
Awwad Rawan,
Veach Patricia McCarthy,
Bartels Dianne M.,
LeRoy Bonnie S.
Publication year - 2008
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/s10897-007-9131-2
Subject(s) - acculturation , genetic counseling , perception , immigration , psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , social psychology , developmental psychology , political science , genetics , neuroscience , law , biology
Patient cultural backgrounds strongly influence decision‐making processes and outcomes in genetic counseling. The present study investigated influences of culture and acculturation on prenatal decision making processes of native Palestinians and Palestinian Americans. Seventeen native Palestinians and 14 first‐generation, Palestinian Americans were interviewed and asked to imagine themselves as patients in hypothetical premarital and prenatal situations. Five major issues were investigated: 1) Influence of family history of an inherited condition on pre‐marital decisions; 2) Perceptions of non‐directive genetic counselor statements regarding options; 3) Role of gender in prenatal decisions; 4) Gender differences in emotional expression; and 5) Role of family and society in prenatal decisions. Several similarities and differences in native Palestinian and Palestinian American responses were obtained. Similarities appear to be due to common cultural roots, while differences may be due to acculturation. Practice and research recommendations are provided.