THE USE OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH-CARE SERVICES - CARRIER TESTING FOR THE GENETIC DISORDER HEMOPHILIA

A retrospective study was performed to explore carrier testing among w omen who were possible or obligate carriers of the haemophilia gene. K nowledge of the possibility of carrier testing and use of carrier test ing were studied separately. In our exploration we were guided by the diffusion theory and the Health Belief Model. Logistic regression anal ysis showed that four factors were statistically significant related t o knowledge of carrier testing: information via mass media, a haemophi lic relative in the nuclear family rather than in the extended family, medical severity of haemophilia, and information from the patients' o rganization. For those women acquainted with carrier testing two of th e four factors just mentioned were significantly related to the utiliz ation of carrier testing i.e. having a haemophilic relative in the nuc lear family and the medical severity of the haemophilia. In addition t he following factors were associated: attitude towards abortion becaus e of haemophilia, educational level, and marital status. Notwithstandi ng the prominent function of the mass media and the patients' organiza tion, the respondents themselves stated that relatives, especially par ents and sisters, were the most important source of information on gen etic counselling and carrier testing.