Explaining variation in Down's syndrome screening uptake: comparing the Netherlands with England and Denmark using documentary analysis and expert stakeholder interviews.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The offer of prenatal Down's syndrome screening is part of routine antenatal care in most of Europe; however screening uptake varies significantly across countries. Although a decision to accept or reject screening is a personal choice, it is unlikely that the widely differing uptake rates across countries can be explained by variation in individual values alone.The aim of this study was to compare Down's syndrome screening policies and programmes in the Netherlands, where uptake is relatively low (<30%) with England and Denmark where uptake is higher (74 and > 90% respectively), in an attempt to explain the observed variation in national uptake rates.

Methods

We used a mixed methods approach with an embedded design: a) documentary analysis and b) expert stakehold

SUBMITTER: Crombag NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4263059 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature