Relinquishment of infants with Down syndrome in Israel: Trends by time

To assess factors affecting parental relinquishment of infants with Down sy ndrome, we conducted a nationwide cohort study of infants with Down syndrom e who were born in Israel during 1979-1983 and 1987-1991. Overall relinquis hment rate was 25%. Major factors affecting relinquishment were mother's ag e, birth order, infant's health status, and study periods. A decision to re linquish a newborn infant in the hospital is probably based on a combinatio n of several parameters, such as the economic status of the family, social mores, and religious beliefs.