Reproductive Behaviour of Couples at Risk for Sickle Cell Disease in Cuba: a Follow-Up Study
✍ Scribed by Aida Dorticós-Balea; Marcos Martin-Ruiz; Piedad Hechevarria-Fernández; Martha S. Robaina-Castellanos; Manuel Rodriguez-Blanco; Fidel Moras-Bracero; Hilda Granda Ibarra
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1997
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 39 KB
- Volume
- 17
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0197-3851
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Three hundred and forty-three Cuban women at risk of having children with sickle cell anaemia or sickle cell-haemoglobin C disease were interviewed 2-8 years after the index pregnancy (that in which their risk was detected). The aim was to collect information on their attitude towards prenatal diagnosis in subsequent pregnancies. Twenty-two per cent (75/343) had dissolved their marriage and 9 per cent of these (7/75) considered that their at-risk status had influenced the separation. Sixty-three per cent of stable couples at risk (168/268) had decided to have no further children; 27 per cent of these (45/168) were afraid of having an affected child and 4 per cent (7/168) were afraid of the obstetric procedure. Nineteen per cent of the stable couples at risk (52/268) had had at least one further child or pregnancy. Of these, 44 per cent (23/52) requested prenatal diagnosis early and spontaneously, and a further 44 per cent (23/52) requested prenatal diagnosis but after re-identification by screening and recounselling. Only 12 per cent (6/52) did not request prenatal diagnosis. Attitude towards prenatal diagnosis was most positive among more educated women. The general perception of the prevention programme was good.
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