Dataset Information

Termination of pregnancy due to Thalassemia major, Hemophilia, and Down's syndrome: the views of Iranian physicians.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genetic disorders due to kindred marriages are common medical conditions in Iran; however, the legal aspects of abortion remain controversial. This study was undertaken to determine physicians' opinions regarding the termination of pregnancy for three genetic diseases: thalassemia major, hemophilia, and Down's syndrome.

Methods

A questionnaire was administered to selected physicians by stratified random sampling to determine the following: age, gender, knowledge about prenatal diagnosis of diseases in high risk pregnancies, agreement with abortion, recommended gestational age for abortion, and, if opposed to abortion, the reason.

Results

Of 323 physicians, who participated in the study, 91.3(295), 40.6(131), and 78.6%(254) were in agreement and 8.7(28), 59.4(192), and 21.4%(69) were opposed to abortion for thalassemia major, hemophilia, and Down's syndrome, respectively. Among 289 physicians opposed to abortion in respect of each of all three conditions, the following reasons were cited: religion, 18; emotional, 10; quality of care, 23; hope to find a new treatment option in the future, 103; miscellaneous reasons, 6; and a combination of these reasons, 129. Among 680 physicians in agreement with abortion in relation to all of the diseases, 4.6%(31) were agreed with abortion in less than 12 weeks gestation, 79.2%(538) in less than 16 weeks gestation, 5.6%(38) in less than 20 weeks gestation, 2.2%(15) in less than 24 weeks gestation, and 8.4%(58) were agreed with beyond the 24 weeks of gestational age.

Conclusion

The majority of physicians were in agreement with abortion for thalassemia major and Down's syndrome because of the overall prognosis, but opposed to abortion for hemophilia.

SUBMITTER: Karimi M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2628659 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Termination of pregnancy due to Thalassemia major, Hemophilia, and Down's syndrome: the views of Iranian physicians.

Karimi Mehran M Bonyadi Mohammadmehdi M Galehdari Mohhamad reza Mr Zareifar Soheila S

BMC medical ethics 20081223

<h4>Background</h4>Genetic disorders due to kindred marriages are common medical conditions in Iran; however, the legal aspects of abortion remain controversial. This study was undertaken to determine physicians' opinions regarding the termination of pregnancy for three genetic diseases: thalassemia major, hemophilia, and Down's syndrome.<h4>Methods</h4>A questionnaire was administered to selected physicians by stratified random sampling to determine the following: age, gender, knowledge about p ...[more]

PMID: 19105809

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Project description:ImportancePrenatal cardiac screening of the first and second trimesters has had a major impact on postnatal prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHDs), rates of termination of pregnancy (TOP), and outcomes among children born alive with CHDs.ObjectiveTo examine the prenatal and postnatal incidence of major CHDs (ie, necessitating intervention within the first year of life), detection rate trends, rates of TOP, and the association of cardiac screening with postnatal outcomes.Design, settings, and participantsIn this cross-sectional study, 3827 fetuses with antenatally diagnosed major CHDs in the Czech Republic (population 10.7 million) between 1991 and 2021 were prospectively evaluated with known outcomes and associated comorbidities. Prenatal and postnatal prevalence of CHD in an unselected population was assessed by comparison with a retrospective analysis of all children born alive with major CHDs in the same period (5454 children), using national data registry. Data analysis was conducted from January 1991 to December 2021.Main outcomes and measuresPrenatal detection and postnatal prevalence of major CHDs and rate of TOPs in a setting with a centralized health care system over 31 years.ResultsA total of 3 300 068 children were born alive during the study period. Major CHD was diagnosed in 3827 fetuses, of whom 1646 (43.0%) were born, 2069 (54.1%) resulted in TOP, and 112 (2.9%) died prenatally. The prenatal detection rate increased from 6.2% in 1991 to 82.8% in 2021 (P < .001). Termination of pregnancy decreased from 70% in 1991 to 43% (P < .001) in 2021. Of 627 fetuses diagnosed in the first trimester (introduced in 2007), 460 were terminated (73.3%). Since 2007, of 2066 fetuses diagnosed in the second trimester, 880 (42.6%) were terminated, resulting in an odds ratio of 3.6 (95% CI, 2.8-4.6; P < .001) for TOP in the first trimester compared with the second trimester. Postnatal prevalence of major CHDs declined from 0.21% to 0.14% (P < .001). The total incidence (combining prenatal detection of terminated fetuses with postnatal prevalence) of major CHD remained at 0.23% during the study period.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cross-sectional study, the total incidence of major CHD did not change significantly during the 31-year study period. The prenatal detection of major CHD approached 83% in the current era. Postnatal prevalence of major CHD decreased significantly due to early TOPs and intrauterine deaths. The introduction of first trimester screening resulted in a higher termination rate in the first trimester but did not revert the overall decreasing trend of termination for CHDs in general.

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Project description:ImportancePhysicians' views about health care costs are germane to pending policy reforms.ObjectiveTo assess physicians' attitudes toward and perceived role in addressing health care costs.Design, setting, and participantsA cross-sectional survey mailed in 2012 to 3897 US physicians randomly selected from the AMA Masterfile.Main outcomes and measuresEnthusiasm for 17 cost-containment strategies and agreement with an 11-measure cost-consciousness scale.ResultsA total of 2556 physicians responded (response rate = 65%). Most believed that trial lawyers (60%), health insurance companies (59%), hospitals and health systems (56%), pharmaceutical and device manufacturers (56%), and patients (52%) have a "major responsibility" for reducing health care costs, whereas only 36% reported that practicing physicians have "major responsibility." Most were "very enthusiastic" for "promoting continuity of care" (75%), "expanding access to quality and safety data" (51%), and "limiting access to expensive treatments with little net benefit" (51%) as a means of reducing health care costs. Few expressed enthusiasm for "eliminating fee-for-service payment models" (7%). Most physicians reported being "aware of the costs of the tests/treatments [they] recommend" (76%), agreed they should adhere to clinical guidelines that discourage the use of marginally beneficial care (79%), and agreed that they "should be solely devoted to individual patients' best interests, even if that is expensive" (78%) and that "doctors need to take a more prominent role in limiting use of unnecessary tests" (89%). Most (85%) disagreed that they "should sometimes deny beneficial but costly services to certain patients because resources should go to other patients that need them more." In multivariable logistic regression models testing associations with enthusiasm for key cost-containment strategies, having a salary plus bonus or salary-only compensation type was independently associated with enthusiasm for "eliminating fee for service" (salary plus bonus: odds ratio [OR], 3.3, 99% CI, 1.8-6.1; salary only: OR, 4.3, 99% CI, 2.2-8.5). In multivariable linear regression models, group or government practice setting (β = 0.87, 95% CI, 0.29 to 1.45, P = .004; and β = 0.99, 95% CI, 0.20 to 1.79, P = .01, respectively) and having a salary plus bonus compensation type (β = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.32 to 1.33; P = .002) were positively associated with cost-consciousness. Finding the "uncertainty involved in patient care disconcerting" was negatively associated with cost-consciousness (β = -1.95; 95% CI, -2.71 to -1.18; P < .001).Conclusion and relevanceIn this survey about health care cost containment, US physicians reported having some responsibility to address health care costs in their practice and expressed general agreement about several quality initiatives to reduce cost but reported less enthusiasm for cost containment involving changes in payment models.

Dataset Information

Termination of pregnancy due to Thalassemia major, Hemophilia, and Down's syndrome: the views of Iranian physicians.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Termination of pregnancy due to Thalassemia major, Hemophilia, and Down's syndrome: the views of Iranian physicians.

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