Dr Hilary Bowman-Smart1
1University Of Oxford, 2Monash University, 3Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is currently available in Australia on a user-pays basis. There are a number of different brands and options for prospective parent(s) to choose from, many of which offer to provide information about the fetal chromosomal sex. There is controversy about the use of NIPT for non-medical fetal chromosomal sex determination. There are concerns about its potential use for sex-selective termination of pregnancy as well as reinforcement of gender essentialism. This has implications for policy decisions regarding NIPT. To assess the motivations, experiences and attitudes of Australian NIPT users on its use for non-medical sex determination, we conducted a mixed-methods survey with online recruitment. We received 1,228 responses, and used statistical analysis and inductive content analysis. The majority of the respondents (78.9%) found out the fetal chromosomal sex during their most recent use of NIPT. Of the entire sample, 19.1% indicated fetal sex determination was either the main reason, or of equal importance to other reasons, for using NIPT. Respondents reported a diverse range of reasons for engaging in fetal sex determination, including abstract reasons such as curiosity; perceived practical reasons such as shopping or naming; and psychological benefits relating to maternal-fetal attachment, making the baby “real”, and providing time to deal with gender disappointment. Respondents described a range of experiences with NIPT fetal chromosomal sex determination, both prior to and after the test. The results of this survey can inform both clinical practice and policy development relating to the provision of NIPT in the Australian setting.
Biography:
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