Impact of Demographic Factors on Prenatal Diagnosis and Elective Pregnancy Termination because of Abdominal Wall Defects, Hawaii, 1986–1997

OBJECTIVE: The intent of this study was to investigate the impact of various demographic factors on the antenatal diagnosis and elective termination of abdominal wall defect pregnancies. METHOD: Data were obtained from a birth defects registry in Hawaii between 1986 and 1997. RESULTS: The antenatal diagnosis rate was higher for gastroschisis than for omphalocele (76 vs. 60%). However, gastroschisis pregnancies were substantially less frequently electively terminated than omphalocele pregnancies (8 vs. 29%). Factors such as year of diagnosis and delivery, maternal age, race/ethnicity, residence, and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening affected the prenatal diagnosis and/or elective termination of both omphalocele and gastroschisis pregnancies, but frequently in different ways. CONCLUSION: This investigation determined that antenatal diagnosis and elective termination varied with the type of abdominal wall defect and selected demographic factors.