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

Abstract

Objectives: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusions: 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.