Factors Contributing to the Decision to Continue Pregnancy After Prenatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome

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  • 出生前診断でダウン症の確定診断後に「妊娠継続」の決定をもたらしたもの
  • シュッショウゼン シンダン デ ダウンショウ ノ カクテイ シンダンゴ ニ ニンシン ケイゾク ノ ケッテイ オ モタラシタ モノ

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Abstract

Three couples who chose to continue pregnancy after a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome were interviewed. Although the timing of the decision differed, it was the mother's desire to give birth that initiated the decision. This desire, however, was not unshakable, but rather was influenced by surrounding factors. Under the framework of reproductive rights, selective abortion is considered essential for the protection of a women's right to abortion. It became clear from the couples' statements, however, that the right of women to bear children may be impeded or promoted by certain causal factors. Factors impeding pregnancy continuation included the inability of medical professionals to imagine that the couple would choose to bear a child after diagnosis and remarks made by medical professionals that lacked consideration for the couple's feelings. Factors promoting continuation included medical staff and family members a) not pressuring the couple to either continue pregnancy or abort, b) providing information from their area of expertise and c) introducing the couple to people they wanted to meet. The decision to continue pregnancy was not consistent from the beginning. The couples described coming to the decision as a vaguely demarcated linear progression influenced by factors that promoted continuation of pregnancy and by factors that impeded it. Studies have reported that parents who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome feel sad and disappointed when faced with the differences between healthy children and their own child. But those interviewed for this study experienced great joy after giving birth and had a positive outlook on their child's growth and development.

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