Counselling for Down's syndrome screening

Abstract

There are psychological implications for the pregnant woman when the Down's syndrome screening test is offered. Midwives and doctors need to understand and appreciate those psychological implications. Adequate knowledge and good communication skills can help staff offer the Down's syndrome screening test in a facilitative rather than a prescriptive manner. Facilitating patients to own their decisions, means involving them in their decision making. This article promotes the need for more medical non-directive counselling and less medical directive counselling, when offering the Down's syndrome screening test. It also highlights the need for early recognition and referral of those patients needing psychotherapeutic and non-directive counselling.