Levels of knowledge of Down syndrome and Down syndrome testing in Australian women

At their first hospital antenatal visit, 209 women were interviewed to expl ore their level of knowledge of Down syndrome and the available prenatal te sts. Overall, the women had limited knowledge. Non-Caucasian women had less knowledge of Down syndrome, available prenatal tests and the association o f Down syndrome with advanced maternal age than Caucasian women. Women with a history of a previous pregnancy and women over 35 years of age were not more aware of Down syndrome or the available tests than other women. These findings have significant implications for antenatal education and the impl ementation of screening programs for Down syndrome.