Different perceptions and attitudes regarding prenatal testing among service providers and consumers in Israel.

Introduction: The increasing number of prenatal tests for fetal abnormalities calls for a prenatal care policy which will reflect not only medical values, but also the needs and attitudes of the services' consumers.

Objectives: To compare attitudes of prenatal service consumers and providers regarding extent of prenatal testing and to evaluate these attitudes in relation to sociodemographic and professional characteristics.

Methods: Women were interviewed by phone 5-8 weeks postpartum (n = 596) using a structured questionnaire. Health professionals (n = 351) completed a parallel questionnaire.

Results: Health professionals were significantly more supportive of comprehensive prenatal testing than women (61.1 vs. 34.1%, respectively). In a multivariable analysis, age over 35, Ashkenazi origin and being better informed regarding tests, predicted a preference for comprehensive testing among women. Among health professionals, predictors of that attitude were secularism and a paramedical profession.

Conclusions: Providers and consumers of prenatal services differ in their perceptions and opinions. Policy makers should have mechanisms in place to properly represent this diversity.