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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the General Population Regarding Peripheral Blood Chromosomal Testing in the Premarital or Preconception Context

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Some previous studies examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward prenatal genetic testing of the fetus but not toward blood chromosomal testing in the preconception and premarital period. This study investigated the KAP of the general population regarding peripheral blood chromosomal testing in the premarital or preconception period. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: From October 2023 to December 2023 at the authors' hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Enrolled individuals who participated in free premarital medical examinations and free prepregnancy health examinations. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: A self-designed questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.917) was used to collect the demographic information and KAP scores. KAP scores across variable categories were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis H test. Correlations between KAP scores were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. Factors associated with KAP were identified by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: This study included 630 valid questionnaires. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 18.90 ± 4.48 (/30, 63.00%), 40.99 ± 5.32 (/50, 81.98%), and 37.66 ± 4.43 (/45, 83.69%), respectively. The knowledge scores were similar between genders (p = 0.840). Compared with males, females had higher attitude scores (42.01 ± 5.40 vs. 40.01 ± 5.07, p < 0.001) and higher practice scores (38.17 ± 4.44 vs. 37.18 ± 4.37, p = 0.013). There were no significant differences between genders regarding the frequencies of having undergone chromosomal testing and recommending it to the partner. The knowledge scores (OR = 1.060, 95% CI: 1.018-1.103, p = 0.004) and attitude scores (OR = 1.198, 95% CI: 1.154-1.244, p < 0.001) were positively independently associated with the practice scores. CONCLUSIONS: The general population in Hangzhou displays poor knowledge but favorable attitudes and proactive practices regarding peripheral blood chromosomal testing in the premarital or preconception period. Cultivating proper knowledge and attitude should improve practice.

Source: Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine

DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.70103

Authors: Caixia Hu, Lulu Zhai, Hailian Wang

Institution: Hangzhou Women’s Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,900