Impact of demographic factors on prenatal diagnosis and elective pregnancytermination because of abdominal wall defects, Hawaii, 1986-1997

Objective: The intent of this study was to investigate the impact of variou s demographic factors on the antenatal diagnosis and elective termination o f abdominal wall defect pregnancies. Method: Data were obtained from a birt h defects registry in Hawaii between 1986 and 1997. Results: The antenatal diagnosis rate was higher for gastroschisis than for omphalocele (76 vs. 60 %), However, gastroschisis pregnancies were substantially less frequently e lectively terminated than omphalocele pregnancies (8 vs. 29%), Factors such as year of diagnosis and delivery, maternal age, race/ethnicity, residence , and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening affected the prenatal diag nosis and/or elective termination of both omphalocele and gastroschisis pre gnancies, but frequently in different ways. Conclusion: This investigation determined that antenatal diagnosis and elective termination varied with th e type of abdominal wall defect and selected demographic factors.