The life experiences of women receiving first trimester screening for Down’s syndrome

• Main Authors: Chia-Ying Kao, 高嘉霙
• Other Authors: Su-Chen Kuo
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/55986289152579084745

碩士 === 國立臺北護理學院 === 護理助產研究所 === 99 === Down’s syndrome is the most widely known chromosomal disease currently. Nowadays many hospitals and clinics offer kinds of Down’s syndrome screening. First trimester screening is the most accurate and safest way, and it can be done earlier. However, first trimester screening is not general in Taiwan, and the documents are very few. This study aimed to explore the life experience of women who received first trimester screening for Down’s syndrome. By using oral-history method, the study interviewed 15 women who received first trimester screening in order to understand what they thought about Down’s syndrome, the real experiences of the screening process, and their responses of the results. The study found that women were afraid of having children with Down’s syndrome. They tried hard to seek the information about fetuses’ health. Both medical services and the attitudes of health professionals affected women’s experience. The study also found that different women had different thinking about the processes and results of this screening. They also had some expectations for the screening and medical systems. Through women’s real life experiences and feedback, we hope their voices can be heard by health professions and they can be offered with better screening services in the future.