EXPERIENCES OF MOTHERS PARTICIPATING IN MATERNAL SERUM SCREENING FOR DOWNS-SYNDROME

The participation rate in a maternal serum screening for trisomy 21 wa s 84% in the Helsinki trial. Six hundred and twenty-five mothers who h ad a positive result and a random sample of 245 mothers who had a nega tive result took part in the opinion survey. Ninety-five percent of th e first and 97% of the second group considered the screening tests as very or quite useful. However, 12 % of those with a positive result wo uld decide against taking the test if they could reconsider, whereas 1 00% of those with a negative result would take it again. Too little in formation about the test, worries and stress, unnecessary in cases of false timing, difficult decision-making, and anxiety while awaiting th e results of the chromosome study were the main complaints. More infor mation at all stages, earlier testing, ultrasound timing before the se rum test, and fast results were considered essential.