Attitudes to prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy for 30 conditions among women in Saudi Arabia and the UK

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to compare attitudes between women from different cultural and/or religious backgrounds toward prenatal diagnosis (PND) and termination of pregnancy (TOP) for 30 different conditions. METHODS: A questionnaire examining parents' attitudes toward PND and TOP for 30 different conditions was completed by 100 Saudi, 222 UK-White, and 198 UK-Pakistani women. Comparison of overall attitudes with PND and TOP between groups was carried out, and a total score reflecting attitudes was obtained. RESULTS: In general, there were positive attitudes toward PND among the three groups surveyed. The attitudes of Saudi and UK-Pakistani women toward PND were more favorable than UK-White women. Overall, acceptance of TOP was lower than for PND. For the majority of conditions, acceptance of TOP was highest in Saudi women and lowest in UK-Pakistani women. CONCLUSION: Attitudes toward TOP were significantly different between the three groups and may be influenced by cultural and/or religious factors. Availability of social services, genetic counseling, and rehabilitation centers may also influence attitude toward PND and TOP.