Agricultural and Biological Research

Analysis of awareness of prenatal screening for diagnosis of genetic disorders

Prakash Shobas*, Varshaa TB, Princy Anusha V, Anitha C

The study was performed on people of the Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, (n=201) to determine their practices towards reproductive decision-making. The main goal of the study is to analyze the participants’ knowledge of the practices towards Prenatal Diagnosis (PND) and Termination of Pregnancy (TOP). Primarily due to the occurrence of consanguineous marriages (20%). Compared to TOP (39%), practice towards PND (61%) was more helpful. For an early diagnosis, PND is a good opportunity for parents. In Kanyakumari district, most people will have an awareness of genetic disorders, prenatal diagnosis, and termination of pregnancy. Mercy (22.60%), religious belief (12.8%), and sin (12.2%) are the major influences on the participant’s practices concerning prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy. The fetus was diagnosed with a genetic disorder before 120 days of pregnancy, they have undergone abortion favored by 61.2%, and un-favored by 48% of the people. 62% of members responded to the diagnosis of a fetus with genetic diseases before delivery, and 38% were not accepted in prenatal diagnosis. 50.8% of members not knowing the causes of a family history of genetic diseases. But 49.2% know the causes of a family history of genetic diseases. The reason for rejecting the above question was religious belief (12.8%), ethics (10.4%), culture (9.8%) mercy (22.6%), sin (12.2%), others reason (32.3%). Reason for accepting the genetic disorder before 120 days of pregnancy (50.2%) members would undergo abortion question was for getting a healthy child (68.9%), and preventing the affected child (31.1%). The challenge of the research is a small effort to identify people knowledge on consanguineous marriages and their effects.