Views Of Healthcare Professionals Wanted On Antenatal Screening

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  ADHD;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 02 Aug 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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This month, the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities will embark on a research study that will seek to obtain the views of healthcare professionals involved in antenatal screening for fetal abnormality. A preliminary study funded by the charity in 2006 showed that midwives and obstetricians often feel they lack vital information about disability to guide expectant parents through the process.

Researchers working with the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities want to gather the views and experiences of healthcare professionals more widely to find out if they have had similar experiences.

Alison Giraud-Saunders from the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, said:

"We know that midwives and obstetricians want to help pregnant women and their partners make informed choices about antenatal screening when there is a chance the baby could be disabled. Unfortunately they often feel hampered by a lack of balanced, up-to-date information about the lives of disabled people.

If the findings of this much larger study are consistent with what we already know, then we will start working with healthcare professionals and expectant parents to improve how screening is handled."

Interested healthcare professionals can obtain and complete an anonymous questionnaire by visiting http://www.learningdisabilities.org.uk

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities promotes the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families. We do this by working with people with learning disabilities, their families and those who support them to:

- Do research and develop projects that promote social inclusion and citizenship;
- Support local communities and services to include people with learning disabilities;
- Make practical improvements in services for people with learning disabilities;
- Spread knowledge and information.

http://www.learningdisabilities.org.uk

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