The effects of genetic screening on women's decision making process when at-risk for giving birth to a child with a disability /

prenatal screening procedures available to many women who are at-risk for giving birth to a child with a disability. These procedures include ultra-sound, chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and genetic counseling. Individuals who live with disabilities have begun to question the message that...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Roberts, Christy Danine
Format: Thesis Book
Language:English
Published: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] ; 1998.
Subjects:
Online Access:http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=733029541&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Description
Summary:prenatal screening procedures available to many women who are at-risk for giving birth to a child with a disability. These procedures include ultra-sound, chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and genetic counseling. Individuals who live with disabilities have begun to question the message that is communicated to society when a fetus with an anomaly is terminated. Further questioning about the safety and necessity of specific prenatal screening procedures has surfaced. As a result of the impact these procedures can have on society and women, it is important that women have a thorough understanding of disability issues to ensure that they are making an informed choice. This study investigated the relationship between knowledge of disability gained in genetic counseling and women's decision-making processes regarding whether to continue or terminate a fetus with an anomaly. The total sample consisted of 69 women who were seeking genetic counseling at a genetic counseling center in a large metropolitan area. Demographic information revealed that the majority of the participants were well educated, non-minority women. A point biserial analysis revealed that there was no relationship between the level of knowledge of disability that women had and a woman's intended choice to continue or terminate her pregnancy. However, an additional point biserial correlation revealed a relationship between knowledge of available resources for people with disabilities and a woman's choice to continue or terminate her pregnancy with an anomaly. Considering the impact prenatal screening procedures have on women's well-being and decision making process, it is important that women be given detailed information mABSTRACT disabilities.
Item Description:Vita.
"Major Subject: Educational Psychology".
Physical Description:xii, 127 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-115).