Introduction: Prenatal testing involves a series of tests conducted during pregnancy to screen for or diagnose birth defects. These tests are designed to provide essential information that helps families make informed decisions regarding pregnancy and reproductive health. Additionally, they support healthcare providers in offering optimal care and management to pregnant women. Aim: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about prenatal testing among pregnant women attending selected hospitals in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab. The study also aimed to create an information booklet based on the findings. Methodology: A quantitative research approach was adopted for this study. A convenience sampling method was employed to select a sample of 100 antenatal mothers. To measure their understanding of prenatal testing, a self-developed structured questionnaire was utilized. Result: The findings of the present study revealed that 59% of antenatal mothers have average knowledge, 38% have poor knowledge and only 3% have good knowledge regarding prenatal testing. Conclusion: Majority of antenatal mothers had average knowledge regarding prenatal testing.

Keywords: Prenatal testing, antenatal mothers, knowledge, self-structured questionnaire

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1. Mental Health.com. Pregnancy and mental health by Bridget Coila. Available from:

       https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/pregnancy.

2. Sharma SK. Textbook of pharmacology, pathology and genetics for nurses. Vol. 2. Jaypee Publishers; 2016. p. 924–929.
3. Kumari N. Essential genetics for nursing students. Lotus Publishers; 2013. p. 205–206.
4. Genetic Alliance; The New York-Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Genetic and Newborn Screening Services. Understanding genetics: A New York, Mid-Atlantic guide for patients and health professionals. Washington (DC): Genetic Alliance; 2009 Jul 8. Appendix H, prenatal screening and testing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK115544/.
5. The GUaRDIAN Consortium, Sivasubbu S, Scaria V. Genomics of rare genetic diseases—experiences from India. Hum Genomics. 2019;13:52. doi: 10.1186/s40246-019-0215-5.
6. Verma IC. Burden of genetic disorders in India. Indian J Pediatr. 2000 Dec;67(12):893–8. Erratum in: Indian J Pediatr. 2001 Jan;68(1):25. doi: 10.1007/BF02723953.
7. Arumugam S, Kalluri SS, Sharmila V, Mocherla A, Subbiah NK, Kulkarni JP, et al. Understanding the awareness of prenatal genetic screening tests among pregnant women in India: A cross-sectional study. Cureus. 2024 Mar 26;16(3):e56932. doi: 10.7759/cureus.56932.
8. Matiang’i M, Joosse K, Ngunju P, Kiilu C, Harkx R, Hangelbroek M, et al. Barriers and enablers that influence utilization of ultrasound screening services among antenatal women in Kajiado and Kisii Counties, Kenya. Open J Clin Diagn. 2021;11:1–17. doi: 10.4236/ojcd.2021.111001.
9. Kaur P, Sehgal A, et al. A study to assess the level of knowledge and attitude regarding prenatal genetic testing among antenatal mothers visiting antenatal OPD of Government Medical College and Hospital-32, Chandigarh. Int J Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2022;6(2):47–49.
10. Alotaibi A, Alkhaldi NK, AlNassir AM, AlAyoubi LA, AlMalki NA, Almughyiri RA, et al. Exploring people’s knowledge of genetics and attitude towards genetic testing: A cross-sectional study in a population with a high prevalence of consanguinity. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Nov 7;10(11):2227. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10112227.
11. Ogamba CF, Roberts AA, Babah OA, Ikwuegbuenyi CA, Ologunja OJ, Amodeni OK. Correlates of knowledge of genetic diseases and congenital anomalies among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J. 2021 Mar 28;38:310. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2021.38.310.26636.
12. Smith SK, Cai A, Wong M, Sousa MS, Peate M, Welsh A, et al. Improving women’s knowledge about prenatal screening in the era of non-invasive prenatal testing for Down syndrome: Development and acceptability of a low literacy decision aid. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018 Dec 17;18:499. doi: 10.1186/s12884-018-2135-0.
13. Sahlin E, Nordenskjöld M, Gustavsson P, Wincent J, Georgsson S, Iwarsson E. Positive attitudes towards non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in a Swedish cohort of 1,003 pregnant women. PLoS One. 2016 May 19;11(5):e0156088. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156088.

Introduction: Prenatal testing involves a series of tests conducted during pregnancy to screen for or diagnose birth defects. These tests are designed to provide essential information that helps families make informed decisions regarding pregnancy and reproductive health. Additionally, they support healthcare providers in offering optimal care and management to pregnant women. Aim: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about prenatal testing among pregnant women attending selected hospitals in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab. The study also aimed to create an information booklet based on the findings. Methodology: A quantitative research approach was adopted for this study. A convenience sampling method was employed to select a sample of 100 antenatal mothers. To measure their understanding of prenatal testing, a self-developed structured questionnaire was utilized. Result: The findings of the present study revealed that 59% of antenatal mothers have average knowledge, 38% have poor knowledge and only 3% have good knowledge regarding prenatal testing. Conclusion: Majority of antenatal mothers had average knowledge regarding prenatal testing.

Keywords: Prenatal testing, antenatal mothers, knowledge, self-structured questionnaire

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Mental Health.com. Pregnancy and mental health by Bridget Coila. Available from:

       https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/pregnancy.

2. Sharma SK. Textbook of pharmacology, pathology and genetics for nurses. Vol. 2. Jaypee Publishers; 2016. p. 924–929.
3. Kumari N. Essential genetics for nursing students. Lotus Publishers; 2013. p. 205–206.
4. Genetic Alliance; The New York-Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Genetic and Newborn Screening Services. Understanding genetics: A New York, Mid-Atlantic guide for patients and health professionals. Washington (DC): Genetic Alliance; 2009 Jul 8. Appendix H, prenatal screening and testing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK115544/.
5. The GUaRDIAN Consortium, Sivasubbu S, Scaria V. Genomics of rare genetic diseases—experiences from India. Hum Genomics. 2019;13:52. doi: 10.1186/s40246-019-0215-5.
6. Verma IC. Burden of genetic disorders in India. Indian J Pediatr. 2000 Dec;67(12):893–8. Erratum in: Indian J Pediatr. 2001 Jan;68(1):25. doi: 10.1007/BF02723953.
7. Arumugam S, Kalluri SS, Sharmila V, Mocherla A, Subbiah NK, Kulkarni JP, et al. Understanding the awareness of prenatal genetic screening tests among pregnant women in India: A cross-sectional study. Cureus. 2024 Mar 26;16(3):e56932. doi: 10.7759/cureus.56932.
8. Matiang’i M, Joosse K, Ngunju P, Kiilu C, Harkx R, Hangelbroek M, et al. Barriers and enablers that influence utilization of ultrasound screening services among antenatal women in Kajiado and Kisii Counties, Kenya. Open J Clin Diagn. 2021;11:1–17. doi: 10.4236/ojcd.2021.111001.
9. Kaur P, Sehgal A, et al. A study to assess the level of knowledge and attitude regarding prenatal genetic testing among antenatal mothers visiting antenatal OPD of Government Medical College and Hospital-32, Chandigarh. Int J Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2022;6(2):47–49.
10. Alotaibi A, Alkhaldi NK, AlNassir AM, AlAyoubi LA, AlMalki NA, Almughyiri RA, et al. Exploring people’s knowledge of genetics and attitude towards genetic testing: A cross-sectional study in a population with a high prevalence of consanguinity. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Nov 7;10(11):2227. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10112227.
11. Ogamba CF, Roberts AA, Babah OA, Ikwuegbuenyi CA, Ologunja OJ, Amodeni OK. Correlates of knowledge of genetic diseases and congenital anomalies among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J. 2021 Mar 28;38:310. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2021.38.310.26636.
12. Smith SK, Cai A, Wong M, Sousa MS, Peate M, Welsh A, et al. Improving women’s knowledge about prenatal screening in the era of non-invasive prenatal testing for Down syndrome: Development and acceptability of a low literacy decision aid. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018 Dec 17;18:499. doi: 10.1186/s12884-018-2135-0.
13. Sahlin E, Nordenskjöld M, Gustavsson P, Wincent J, Georgsson S, Iwarsson E. Positive attitudes towards non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in a Swedish cohort of 1,003 pregnant women. PLoS One. 2016 May 19;11(5):e0156088. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156088.