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Verschuuren AEH, Tankink JB, Postma IR, Bergman KA, Goodarzi B, Feijen-de Jong EI, Erwich JJHM. Suboptimal factors in maternal and newborn care for refugees: Lessons learned from perinatal audits in the Netherlands. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305764. [PMID: 38935661 PMCID: PMC11210813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Refugees and their healthcare providers face numerous challenges in receiving and providing maternal and newborn care. Research exploring how these challenges are related to adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to identify suboptimal factors in maternal and newborn care for asylum-seeking and refugee women and assess to what extent these factors may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes in the Netherlands. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of national perinatal audit data from 2017 to 2019. Our analysis encompassed cases with adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes in women with a refugee background (n = 53). Suboptimal factors in care were identified and categorized according to Binder et al.'s Three Delays Model, and the extent to which they contributed to the adverse outcome was evaluated. RESULTS We identified 29 suboptimal factors, of which seven were related to care-seeking, six to the accessibility of services, and 16 to the quality of care. All 53 cases contained suboptimal factors, and in 67.9% of cases, at least one of these factors most likely or probably contributed to the adverse perinatal or maternal outcome. CONCLUSION The number of suboptimal factors identified in this study and the extent to which they contributed to adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes among refugee women is alarming. The wide range of suboptimal factors identified provides considerable scope for improvement of maternal and newborn care for refugee populations. These findings also highlight the importance of including refugee women in perinatal audits as it is essential for healthcare providers to better understand the factors associated with adverse outcomes to improve the quality of care. Adjustments to improve care for refugees could include culturally sensitive education for healthcare providers, increased workforce diversity, minimizing the relocation of asylum seekers, and permanent reimbursement of professional interpreter costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. E. H. Verschuuren
- Department of Health Sciences, Global Health Unit, University Medical Centre Groningen & University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - J. B. Tankink
- Erasmus University Medical Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - I. R. Postma
- Department of Health Sciences, Global Health Unit, University Medical Centre Groningen & University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Isala Clinics, Zwolle, the Netherlands
| | - K. A. Bergman
- Department of Paediatrics Beatrix Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Groningen & University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - B. Goodarzi
- Department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Primary Care and Longterm Care, University Medical Center Groningen & University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Quality of Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Midwifery Academy Amsterdam Groningen, InHolland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E. I. Feijen-de Jong
- Department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Midwifery Academy Amsterdam Groningen, InHolland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Primary Care and Longterm Care, University Medical Centre Groningen & University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Midwifery Academy Amsterdam Groningen, InHolland, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - J. J. H. M. Erwich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Groningen & University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Greve J, Kristensen SR, Lydiksen N. Patient and peer: Guideline design and expert response. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2023; 92:102806. [PMID: 37729841 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
We examine how patients' medical expertise influences adherence to clinical guidelines for a treatment that is common, costly, and rationed by the clinical guidelines. Using administrative data on prenatal diagnostic testing (PDT), we compare the testing rates of medically trained patients (experts) and non-medically trained patients (non-experts) on the margin of eligibility thresholds in clinical guidelines. We find that experts are 9 percentage points more likely to receive PDT than non-experts when they are not eligible for testing and that more than 80% of the difference can be attributed to medical expertise. Our results suggest that the design of clinical guidelines is important for adherence and that having medical expertise as a patient affects treatment, when there is room for a deviation from the guideline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Greve
- The Danish Center for Social Science Research, Herluf Trolles Gade 11, DK-1052, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Søren Rud Kristensen
- Danish Center for Health Economics, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, 1st st floor, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark.
| | - Nis Lydiksen
- The Danish Center for Social Science Research, Herluf Trolles Gade 11, DK-1052, Copenhagen K, Denmark; Department of Economics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark.
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3
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van Prooyen Schuurman L, van der Meij K, van Ravesteyn N, Crombag N, van der Wal JG, Kooij C, Martin L, Peters I, Polak M, van Vliet‐Lachotzki E, Galjaard R, Henneman L. Factors involved in the decision to decline prenatal screening with non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). Prenat Diagn 2022; 43:467-476. [PMID: 36109868 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate factors involved in the decision to decline prenatal screening with noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). METHOD A questionnaire study was conducted among 219 pregnant women in the Netherlands who had declined prenatal screening with NIPT (TRIDENT-2 study). Respondents were selectively recruited from three hospitals and 19 midwifery practices, primarily located in or near socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. 44.3% of the respondents were of non-Western ethnic origin and 64.4% were religious. RESULTS Most respondents (77.2%) found the decision to decline NIPT easy to make, and 59.8% had already made the decision before information about NIPT was offered. These respondents were more often religious, multigravida, and had adequate health literacy. The main reasons to decline NIPT were "I would never terminate my pregnancy" (57.1%) and "every child is welcome" (56.2%). For 16.9% of respondents, the out-of-pocket costs (175 euros) played a role in the decision, and the women in this group were more often nonreligious, primigravida, and had inadequate health literacy. CONCLUSION The primary factors involved in the decision to decline NIPT were related to personal values and beliefs, consistent with autonomous choice. Out-of-pocket costs of NIPT hinder equal access for some pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne van Prooyen Schuurman
- Department of Clinical Genetics Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam the Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam the Netherlands
| | - Karuna van der Meij
- Department of Human Genetics Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development research institute Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - Nicolien van Ravesteyn
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam the Netherlands
| | - Neeltje Crombag
- Department of Development and Regeneration Cluster Woman and Child Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology UMC Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht the Netherlands
| | - Janneke Gitsels van der Wal
- Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - Caroline Kooij
- Midwifery and Ultrasound Centre "Verloskundigen Vida" Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - Linda Martin
- Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam the Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Peters
- Department of Quality and Patient Care Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam the Netherlands
| | - Marike Polak
- Department of Psychology Education and Child Studies (DPECS), Erasmus University Rotterdam Rotterdam the Netherlands
| | | | - Robert‐Jan Galjaard
- Department of Clinical Genetics Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam the Netherlands
| | - Lidewij Henneman
- Department of Human Genetics Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development research institute Amsterdam the Netherlands
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van Blarikom E, de Kok B, Bijma HH. "Who am I to say?" Dutch care providers' evaluation of psychosocial vulnerability in pregnant women. Soc Sci Med 2022; 307:115181. [PMID: 35792411 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Maternity care increasingly focuses on evaluating psychosocial vulnerability during pregnancy. Research and nationwide (public health) programs, both in the USA and Europe, led to the development of new protocols and screening instruments for care providers to systematically screen for psychosocial vulnerability in pregnant women. However, standardised screening for vulnerability is complex since it requires discussion of sensitive issues. Women may fear stigmatisation and may have limited trust in their care providers or the health system. Our study contributes to the growing field of client-facing risk work by exploring care providers' interpretations and evaluation of psychosocial vulnerability in pregnant women. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with Dutch maternity care providers, we explore how they conceptualise risk and vulnerability and identify 'vulnerable pregnant women' in their practices. We find that care providers conceptualise 'vulnerability' as primarily based on risk, which contributes to an imbalanced focus on individual mothers, rather than on both parents and the social context. Our findings highlight care providers' concerns around 'care avoidance', seen as a risk factor affecting 'vulnerability' during pregnancy and as a possible consequence of risk screening. The care providers we interviewed employ "in between-strategies" based on intuition, emotion, and trust to skillfully attend to the risk that comes with risk work, in terms of its potential impact on relationships of trust and open communication. We conclude that 'vulnerability' should be understood as a multi-layered, situated and relational concept rather than simply as an epidemiological category. Since a trusting relationship between pregnant women and care providers is crucial for the evaluation of vulnerability, we reflect critically on the risk of standardised perinatal psychosocial risk evaluations. Policy should recognise providers' "in between-strategies" to embed epidemiological understandings of risk in the context of everyday risk work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esca van Blarikom
- Department of Anthropology, Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Centre for Primary Care, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Bregje de Kok
- Department of Anthropology, Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Hilmar H Bijma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics & Foetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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5
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Heller HM, de Vries AVR, Hoogendoorn AW, Scheele F, Kop WJ, de Groot CJM, Honig A, Broekman BFP. Complications and Healthcare Consumption of Pregnant Women with a Migrant Background: Could There be an Association with Psychological Distress? Matern Child Health J 2022; 26:1613-1621. [PMID: 35653053 PMCID: PMC9329408 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-022-03451-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective Previous studies reported less prenatal healthcare consumption and more perinatal complications in women with a migrant background. Hence, we investigated in a country with free healthcare access whether women with a migrant background differed with respect to pregnancy complications, healthcare consumption and in terms of associations with psychological distress in comparison to native Dutch. Methods We included 324 native Dutch and 303 women with a migrant background, who visited two hospitals in Amsterdam for antenatal care between 2014 and 2015. Participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and sociodemographic questions. Complications and healthcare consumption during pregnancy were extracted from medical records. Regression analyses were used with adjustment for covariates. Results Except for gestational diabetes [adjusted OR = 3.09; 95% CI = (1.51, 6.32)], no differences were found between groups in perinatal complications [OR = 1.15; 95% CI = (0.80, 1.64)], nor in healthcare consumption [OR = 0.87; 95% CI = (0.63, 1.19)]. Women with a migrant background reported more depressive symptoms [Cohen’s d = 0.25; 95% CI = (0.10, 0.41)], even after adjustment for socio-economic factors. Psychological distress was associated with more hospital admissions during pregnancy. When experiencing depressive symptoms, women with a migrant background had an increased risk to be admitted [OR = 1.11; 95% CI = (1.01, 1.21)]. Conclusions for Practice This cohort study found no differences in pregnancy-related complications, except for diabetes, nor different healthcare consumption, in women with a migrant background versus native Dutch, in a country with free health care access. However, women with a migrant background experienced more depressive symptoms, and when depressed their risk for hospital admission increased. Additional research is warranted to improve healthcare for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna M. Heller
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemijn V. R. de Vries
- Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, Spaarne Gasthuis, POB 417, 2000 AK Haarlem, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan W. Hoogendoorn
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- GGZ inGeest Mental Health Care, 1081 HJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fedde Scheele
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, OLVG Hospital, Jan Tooropstraat 164, 1061 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem J. Kop
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, De Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Christianne J. M. de Groot
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan Honig
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, OLVG Hospital, Jan Tooropstraat 164, 1061 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Birit F. P. Broekman
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, OLVG Hospital, Jan Tooropstraat 164, 1061 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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6
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Mayer J, Brandstetter S, Tischer C, Seelbach-Göbel B, Malfertheiner SF, Melter M, Kabesch M, Apfelbacher C. Utilisation of supplementary prenatal screening and diagnostics in Germany: cross-sectional study using data from the KUNO Kids Health Study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:436. [PMID: 35610584 PMCID: PMC9131677 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04692-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriate health system utilisation during pregnancy is fundamental for maintaining maternal and child's health. To study the use and determinants of supplementary prenatal screening and diagnostics in Germany this study provides comprehensive data. METHODS We obtained data from a recently established prospective German birth cohort study, the KUNO Kids Health Study. Analyses are based on Andersen's Behavioural Model of health system use, which distinguishes between predisposing (e.g. country of birth), enabling (e.g. health insurance) and need factors (e.g. at-risk pregnancy). We examined bi- and multivariate association with the use of supplementary prenatal screening and diagnostics using logistic regression. RESULTS The study has a sample size of 1886 participating mothers. One fifth of the mothers investigated did not use any supplementary prenatal screening or diagnostics. Notably, the chance of using supplementary prenatal screening and diagnostics more than doubled if the pregnant woman had a private health insurance (OR 2.336; 95% CI 1.527-3.573). Higher maternal age (OR 1.038; 95% CI 1.006-1.071) and environmental tobacco smoke exposure (OR 1.465 95% CI 1.071-2.004) increased the use of supplementary prenatal screening and diagnostics. However, regarding need factors only having an at-risk-pregnancy (OR 1.688; 95% CI 1.271-2.241) showed an independent association. CONCLUSION The important role of the type of health insurance and the relatively small influence of need factors was surprising. Especially with respect to equity in accessing health care, this needs further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Mayer
- University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Steinmetzstr., 1-3, 93049, Regensburg, Germany.,Medical Sociology, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,Institute for Social Medicine and Health Systems Research (ISMG), Leipzigerstr. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Brandstetter
- University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Steinmetzstr., 1-3, 93049, Regensburg, Germany.,Research and Development Campus (WECARE), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christina Tischer
- Institute for Social Medicine and Health Systems Research (ISMG), Leipzigerstr. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.,State Institute of Health, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Bad Kissingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Seelbach-Göbel
- University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sara Fill Malfertheiner
- University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Melter
- University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Steinmetzstr., 1-3, 93049, Regensburg, Germany.,Research and Development Campus (WECARE), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Kabesch
- University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Steinmetzstr., 1-3, 93049, Regensburg, Germany.,Research and Development Campus (WECARE), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Apfelbacher
- Medical Sociology, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. .,Institute for Social Medicine and Health Systems Research (ISMG), Leipzigerstr. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Research and Development Campus (WECARE), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany.
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7
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van der Meij KRM, Kooij C, Bekker MN, Galjaard RJH, Henneman L. Non-invasive prenatal test uptake in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Prenat Diagn 2021; 41:1395-1400. [PMID: 34505288 PMCID: PMC9291196 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is increasingly being implemented worldwide. In public health programs, equitable access to healthcare is a fundamental principle which also applies to fetal aneuploidy screening. However, the out-of-pocket costs of NIPT may lead to sociodemographic disparities in uptake of screening. This study assessed whether there is a difference in the uptake of NIPT in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods compared to all other neighborhoods in the Netherlands, where NIPT is implemented in a national screening program (TRIDENT-2 study). METHOD NIPT uptake, postal code and age of 156,562 pregnant women who received pre-test counselling for prenatal screening in 2018 were retrieved from the national prenatal screening database. Postal codes were used as a proxy to categorize neighborhoods as being either socioeconomically disadvantaged or other. The out-of-pocket costs for NIPT were €175. RESULTS NIPT uptake in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods was 20.3% whereas uptake in all other neighborhoods was 47.6% (p < 0.001). The difference in NIPT uptake between socioeconomic disadvantaged neighborhoods and other areas was smaller for the youngest maternal age-group (≤25 years) compared to other age-groups. CONCLUSION The variation in uptake suggest underlying disparities in NIPT uptake, which undermines the goals of a national fetal aneuploidy screening program of providing reproductive autonomy and equitable access. This has ethical and policy implications for ensuring fair and responsible implementation of fetal aneuploidy screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karuna R M van der Meij
- Department of Human Genetics and Amsterdam Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline Kooij
- Department of Human Genetics and Amsterdam Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mireille N Bekker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Lidewij Henneman
- Department of Human Genetics and Amsterdam Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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van der Meij KRM, Njio A, Martin L, Gitsels-van der Wal JT, Bekker MN, van Vliet-Lachotzki EH, van der Ven AJEM, Kater-Kuipers A, Timmermans DRM, Sistermans EA, Galjaard RJH, Henneman L. Routinization of prenatal screening with the non-invasive prenatal test: pregnant women's perspectives. Eur J Hum Genet 2021; 30:661-668. [PMID: 34385671 PMCID: PMC9177612 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-021-00940-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the favorable test characteristics of the non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) in the screening of fetal aneuploidy, there has been a strong and growing demand for implementation. In the Netherlands, NIPT is offered within a governmentally supported screening program as a first-tier screening test for all pregnant women (TRIDENT-2 study). However, concerns have been raised that the test’s favorable characteristics might lead to uncritical use, also referred to as routinization. This study addresses women’s perspectives on prenatal screening with NIPT by evaluating three aspects related to routinization: informed choice, freedom to choose and (personal and societal) perspectives on Down syndrome. Nationwide, a questionnaire was completed by 751 pregnant women after receiving counseling for prenatal screening. Of the respondents, the majority (75.5%) made an informed choice for prenatal screening as measured by the multidimensional measure of informed choice (MMIC). Education level and religious affiliation were significant predictors of informed choice. The main reason to accept screening was “seeking reassurance” (25.5%), and the main reason to decline was “every child is welcome” (30.6%). The majority of respondents (87.7%) did not perceive societal pressure to test. Differences between test-acceptors and test-decliners in personal and societal perspectives on Down syndrome were found. Our study revealed high rates of informed decision-making and perceived freedom to choose regarding fetal aneuploidy screening, suggesting that there is little reason for concern about routinization of NIPT based on the perspectives of Dutch pregnant women. Our findings highlight the importance of responsible implementation of NIPT within a national screening program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karuna R M van der Meij
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annabel Njio
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Linda Martin
- Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janneke T Gitsels-van der Wal
- Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mireille N Bekker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Adriana Kater-Kuipers
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle R M Timmermans
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik A Sistermans
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert-Jan H Galjaard
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lidewij Henneman
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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9
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Santoro M, Mezzasalma L, Coi A, Baldacci S, Pasquini L, Pierini A. Sociodemographic Differences in Prenatal Diagnosis of Chromosomal Anomalies: A Population-Based Study. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:630363. [PMID: 33614557 PMCID: PMC7889584 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.630363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In Europe, about 76% of cases of chromosomal anomalies are prenatally diagnosed. Prenatal diagnosis allows more efficient planning of postnatal treatment and helps parents for an informed decision about the continuation of pregnancy. The main aim of this study was to evaluate whether the sociodemographic maternal characteristics affect the probability of prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal anomalies. Methods: Cases of chromosomal anomalies in the period 2005-2017 came from the population-based registry of congenital anomalies of Tuscany (Italy). Differences in the proportion of cases prenatally diagnosed were investigated through the following maternal characteristics: education, geographic origin and occupation. The association between cases of termination of pregnancy after prenatal diagnosis and maternal characteristics was also analysed. Odds Ratios (OR) adjusted by maternal age were calculated using logistic regression models. Results were provided for all cases of chromosomal anomalies and for Down syndrome cases. Results: A total of 1,419 cases were included in the study. Cases prenatally diagnosed were 1,186 (83.6%). We observed a higher proportion of cases not prenatally diagnosed among cases with low maternal education compared to those with high maternal education (OR = 2.16, p < 0.001) and in women from high migratory outflow countries, compared to the Italian ones (OR = 2.85, p < 0.001). For prenatally diagnosed Down syndrome cases, we observed a higher proportion of termination of pregnancy for women with low education level (OR = 4.36, p = 0.023). Conclusions: In our study evidence of differences in the probability of prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal anomalies associated with maternal education and geographic origin was found. Population-based studies investigating sociodemographic disparities can provide essential information for targeted public health programs. Further studies are recommended to monitor the impact of the increasing availability of non-invasive screening tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Santoro
- Unit of Epidemiology of Rare Diseases and Congenital Anomalies, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorena Mezzasalma
- Unit of Epidemiology of Rare Diseases and Congenital Anomalies, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessio Coi
- Unit of Epidemiology of Rare Diseases and Congenital Anomalies, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Baldacci
- Unit of Epidemiology of Rare Diseases and Congenital Anomalies, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lucia Pasquini
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Department for Women and Children Health, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Pierini
- Unit of Epidemiology of Rare Diseases and Congenital Anomalies, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy.,Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
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10
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Bunnik EM, Kater-Kuipers A, Galjaard RJH, de Beaufort ID. Should pregnant women be charged for non-invasive prenatal screening? Implications for reproductive autonomy and equal access. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2020; 46:194-198. [PMID: 31527142 PMCID: PMC7042959 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2019-105675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in healthcare systems around the world offers an opportunity to reconsider funding policies for prenatal screening. In some countries with universal access healthcare systems, pregnant women and their partners are asked to (co)pay for NIPT. In this paper, we discuss two important rationales for charging women for NIPT: (1) to prevent increased uptake of NIPT and (2) to promote informed choice. First, given the aim of prenatal screening (reproductive autonomy), high or low uptake rates are not intrinsically desirable or undesirable. Using funding policies to negatively affect uptake, however, is at odds with the aim of screening. Furthermore, copayment disproportionally affects those of lower socioeconomic status, which conflicts with justice requirements and impedes equal access to prenatal screening. Second, we argue that although payment models may influence pregnant women's choice behaviours and perceptions of the relevance of NIPT, the copayment requirement does not necessarily lead to better-informed choices. On the contrary, external (ie, financial) influences on women's personal choices for or against prenatal screening should ideally be avoided. To improve informed decision-making, healthcare systems should instead invest in adequate non-directive, value-focused pretest counselling. This paper concludes that requiring (substantial) copayments for NIPT in universal access healthcare systems fails to promote reproductive autonomy and is unfair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline M Bunnik
- Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adriana Kater-Kuipers
- Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert-Jan H Galjaard
- Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Inez D de Beaufort
- Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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11
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Kluckow E, Halliday J, Poulton A, Lindquist A, Hutchinson B, Bethune M, Bonacquisto L, Da Silva Costa F, Gugasyan L, Harraway J, Howden A, Kulkarni A, Martin N, McCoy R, Menezes M, Nisbet D, Palma-Dias R, Pertile MD, Poulakis Z, Hui L. Association between timing of diagnosis of trisomy 21, 18, and 13 and maternal socio-economic status in Victoria, Australia: A population-based cohort study from 2015 to 2016. Prenat Diagn 2019; 39:1254-1261. [PMID: 31691307 DOI: 10.1002/pd.5577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore the association between timing of diagnosis of common autosomal trisomies, maternal age, and socio-economic status (SES). DESIGN Retrospective study of cytogenetic diagnoses of trisomy 21 (T21), trisomy 18 (T18), and trisomy 13 (T13) in Victoria, Australia, in 2015 to 2016, stratified by timing (prenatal less than 17 weeks gestation, prenatal including or greater than or 17 weeks gestation, and postnatal before 12 months of age), maternal age, and SES region. Utilisation of prenatal testing following a live-born T21 infant was ascertained via record linkage. RESULTS Among 160 230 total births were 571 diagnoses of T21 and 246 of T18/T13. The overall and live birth prevalences of T21 were 3.56 and 0.47 per 1000 births, respectively. Compared with women from disadvantaged SES regions, women from high SES regions were more likely to have a prenatal diagnosis of a trisomy before 17 weeks than after (P < .01) and less likely to have a live-born T21 infant than a prenatal diagnosis (P < .01). There was a significant trend to higher live birth rates of T21 with lower SES (P = .004). The majority (68.5%) of women who gave birth to a live infant with T21 did not utilise prenatal testing. CONCLUSION There is a significant relationship between lower SES, later prenatal diagnosis of trisomy, and higher live birth rate of T21 in Victoria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Kluckow
- Reproductive Epidemiology Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Halliday
- Reproductive Epidemiology Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alice Poulton
- Reproductive Epidemiology Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anthea Lindquist
- Reproductive Epidemiology Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Briohny Hutchinson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Bethune
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Specialist Women's Ultrasound, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonard Bonacquisto
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fabricio Da Silva Costa
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lucy Gugasyan
- Cytogenetics, Monash Pathology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - James Harraway
- Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amanda Howden
- Cytogenetics, Melbourne Pathology, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Abhijit Kulkarni
- Cytogenetics, Monash Pathology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Richard McCoy
- Molecular Genetics, Australian Clinical Labs, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melody Menezes
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Monash Ultrasound for Women, Richmond, Victoria, Australia
| | - Debbie Nisbet
- Women's Ultrasound Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Ultrasound Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine and Radiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ricardo Palma-Dias
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Women's Ultrasound Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Ultrasound Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark D Pertile
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zeffie Poulakis
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program, Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Prevention Innovation Group, Population Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa Hui
- Reproductive Epidemiology Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Northern Hospital, Epping, Victoria, Australia
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12
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Satisfaction with obstetric care in a population of low-educated native Dutch and non-western minority women. Focus group research. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210506. [PMID: 30703116 PMCID: PMC6354976 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Low-educated native Dutch and non-western minority women have inadequate access to obstetric care. Moreover, the care they receive lacks responsiveness to their needs and cultural competences. Gaining a deeper understanding of their experiences and satisfaction with antenatal, birthing and maternity care will help to adjust healthcare responsiveness to meet their needs during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Methods We combined the World Health Organization conceptual framework of healthcare responsiveness with focus group research to measure satisfaction with antenatal, birthing and maternity care of women with a low-educated native Dutch and non-western ethnic background. Results From September 2011 until December 2013, 106 women were recruited for 20 focus group sessions. Eighty-five percent of the women had a non-western immigrant background and 89% a low or intermediate educational attainment. The study population was mostly positive about the provided care during the antenatal phase. They were less positive about the other two phases of care. Moreover, the obstetric healthcare systems’ responsiveness in all phases of care (antenatal, birthing and maternity) did not meet these women’s needs. The ‘respect for persons’ domains ‘autonomy’, ‘communication’ and ‘dignity’ and the ‘client orientation’ domain ‘prompt attention’ were judged most negatively. Conclusions The study findings give contextual meaning and starting points for improvement of responsiveness in the provision of obstetric care within a multi-ethnic women’s population.
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