M. Bell et Z. Stoneman, Reactions to prenatal testing: Reflection of religiosity and attitudes toward abortion and people with disabilities, AM J MENT R, 105(1), 2000, pp. 1-13
To better understand factors associated with prenatal testing decisions, we
asked individuals what they would do if through prenatal testing they disc
overed that they (or their partner) were carrying an affected fetus. Respon
dents were more uncertain about whether to continue the pregnancy when the
fetus was diagnosed as having Down syndrome than when the fetus had spina b
ifida or hemophilia and less certain about continuing a fetus with spina bi
fida than one with hemophilia. There was modest support for the hypothesis
that negative attitudes toward people with disabilities would be associated
with an increased likelihood of choosing abortion. Religious affiliation w
as associated only with the decision concerning the fetus with hemophilia;
church attendance was associated with the decisions concerning fetuses with
all three diagnoses.