IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF GENETIC SCREENING AMONG ARAB WOMEN IN ISRAEL

This study examined the management of the performance of genetic screening tests by Arab women in Israel, the rate of responsiveness to genetic screening tests among Arab women in Israel, and the link between socioeconomic status, education, and religion, and the responsiveness to performing genetic screening tests among the research population, and the factors that influence Arab women’s decision to perform genetic screening tests prior to pregnancy. The study addresses existing opinions and perceptions regarding Arab women’s level of adherence to pre-pregnancy genetic screening tests. This is an empirical quantitative research and its findings related to the responses given by Arab women, considered the most important stakeholder, the clients of the genetic screening test system. The main findings are that women have a great deal of support for a binding law mandating the performance of tests as well as the requirement to predicate marriage on tests, and for enforcing its application. Another finding is that there is a strong influence of religion and Muslim clerics on the willingness to perform tests among the population. . A special contribution of the study is a change in religious policy by the Chairman of the Muslim Court in Israel, who issued a fatwa (religious order) that commands and directs the Muslim population to perform the tests. Recommendations are made concerning the development of a national program that promotes genetic health and directly influences responsiveness to pre-pregnancy tests aimed towards the main stakeholder group that is Arab women in Israel.