747 UTILIZATION OF GENETIC SERVICES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN AN URGAN CLINIC POPULATION

Abstract

The Maternity, Infant Care-Family Planning Projects of New York City is a Title V and XIX funded program that provides prenatal and family planning services to women in 10 clinics located in high risk areas in New York City. Genetic counseling and screening are offered routinely to pregnant women in need of such services. A 2-year review of records of randomly selected women 35 and over was conducted in order to assess the need for genetic studies for advanced maternal age among the approximately 10,000 pregnant women registered annually for prenatal care in the Project. In 1978 and 1979, 4.5% of women registered for prenatal care were 35 years of age and older. 165 records were audited which represented 21% of the total target population. The records were reviewed: for 1) age of gestation at registration; 2) provider compliance with agency policy to inform those targeted patients, less than 20 weeks gestation at registration, of the increased risk of Down's Syndrome and the availability of prenatal diagnosis; 3) frequency of patient acceptance of the offered referral for genetic counseling and studies. Of those eligible for genetic studies, approximately 50% accepted the referral. 900 were 35 years or over and 600 of these were eligible for genetic studies by gestational age. Of the 600, only 300 accepted the referral. On the basis of our experience, approximately 30% of the target population accepted genetic studies for advanced maternal age.