Reproductive health. Use of prenatal screening tests in Finland

There exists some variation with regard to the timing and number of ultrasound examinations and to which age group amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are offered and a tendency to decentralize prenatal screening test locations was found.

Abstract

This study examines the availability of prenatal screening tests such as ultrasound, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling and serum screening in Finnish maternity care and estimates possible future trends. In Finland, municipalities are responsible for organizing maternity care in their area. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 100 municipalities (response rate 99%) and to all Finnish public hospitals with obstetric or gynaecological departments (response rate 100%). Ultrasound screening examinations and amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling were put into use in Finland as soon as they were technically available. These screening techniques have diffused widely and are accessible throughout most of the country. There exists some variation with regard to the timing and number of ultrasound examinations and to which age group amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are offered. A tendency to decentralize prenatal screening test locations, in particular in the case of ultrasound, was found. Most professionals were comfortable with current screening systems and, if some change was wished for, it most often was a wish to increase screening activity. Regardless of many controversial issues, prenatal screening has become an established practice in Finland.