DETERMINANTS OF PARENTAL DECISIONS AFTER THE PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS OF DOWN-SYNDROME

We evaluated demographic factors and factors specific to the current p regnancy, and their relationship to the decision to continue or termin ate a pregnancy after prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. All cases o f Down syndrome (DS) managed at a tertiary care center from 1989-1997 were retrospectively analyzed with respect to maternal age, parity, ge stational age, sonographic findings, insurance status, and race. Of 14 5 cases of trisomy 21, 19 (13.1%) of women chose continuation of pregn ancy, while 126 (86.9%) chose termination. There were no differences b etween groups in parity, sonographic findings, insurance status, or ra ce at the time of diagnosis. However, patients who chose termination w ere significantly older and earlier in gestation than those electing t o continue their pregnancy. When Down syndrome is diagnosed prenatally , the choice of termination is related to maternal age and gestational age, but only gestational age is a significant independent predictor of pregnancy termination. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.