Factors Influencing Decisions About Prenatal Genetic Testing for Autism Among Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Prenatal genetic testing (PGT) for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is clinically available in the USA; however, PGT-for-autism is controversial in actual clinical practices. This study investigated the association between psychosocial determinants and the intention to undergo PGT among mothers of children with autism. Questionnaires were distributed through electric recruitment letters sent to the major local and regional autism parent groups and organizations. Also, paper-and-pencil-based surveys were administered in two local school settings. The final sample consisted of 184 mothers with an average age of 37.7 years old. The majority was Caucasian (74.5%) and most (85.4%) had attained “Some college degree,” “Bachelor’s degree,” or “Graduate degree.” Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with mothers’ intention to undergo PGT-for-autism, controlling social-demographic variables (e.g., age race/ethnicity, income level). Results showed that “opinion of a healthcare professional,” “desire to help with autism research,” and “accuracy of the test results” were significantly associated with mothers’ intention to undergo PGT-for-autism (p < 0.05 for all). The findings highlight the important role of health professionals in helping mothers understand PGT-for-autism, making relevant genetic testing recommendations and assisting mothers to make informed decisions regarding PGT-for-autism.