Pigeon Pairs and Why Did I Care?: Experiences And Beliefs Surrounding Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) And Fetal Chromosomal Sex Determination
Hilary Bowman-Smart1,2,3, Australian Centre for Precision Health, University Of South Australia Adelaide2, Parkville Victoria3, Victoria Australia 1Australian Centre for Precision Health, University Of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia2Biomedical Ethics Research Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia3Monash Bioethics Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Abstract
With increasing integration of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) into prenatal care and healthcare systems, a contentious debate has arisen surrounding the use of NIPT for fetal chromosomal sex determination early in gestation. Key concerns relate to sex selection practices, reinforcement of gender essentialism, and impacts on society and the future child.
This study sought to provide empirical data to inform this debate by exploring the beliefs and experiences associated with NIPT fetal chromosomal sex determination. We conducted a mixed-methods online survey of Australian NIPT users. Survey data were analysed in Stata 16 (quantitative) or using inductive content analysis (qualitative).
With over 1,200 respondents, our findings revealed complex and nuanced experiences and attitudes held by Australian NIPT users. Respondents reported a range of reasons underlying fetal sex determination practices and gender preferences, and discussed phenomena such as “gender disappointment”. The respondents held a range of beliefs about sex and gender. They also provided insight into the way broader societal beliefs and clinical practices impacted pregnancy and parenting experiences. Many respondents reported a complicated and sometimes conflicting relationship between their reasoned beliefs and their emotional responses.
These findings have important implications for many of the key arguments in the ethical literature. They highlight the need to take an approach that is informed by empirical data. While they must also be considered alongside the views of other stakeholders, the range of viewpoints and experiences of NIPT users is an important consideration for ethical discussions and policy development relating to NIPT fetal sex determination.
Biography
Hilary Bowman-Smart is a Research Fellow at the University of South Australia. She is an empirical bioethicist (mixed methods). She undertook her PhD at the University of Melbourne and was subsequently at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on genomics, reproduction, and the philosophy of health and disease.