Fetal anomaly screening for remote dwelling Aboriginal women in the Northern Territory

Background: Fetal anomaly screening has varied uptake across the country. It is particularly low in the Northern Territory (NT). The challenges in providing this service to women living in remote Australia, especially those who do not speak English as their first language, are many. Previous research on fetal anomaly screening has been undertaken in the urban setting. Method: A NHMRC funded study sought to explore the views of Aboriginal women and their health care providers around testing for fetal anomalies and the factors that influence the provision and uptake of these tests in the NT. In-depth interviews with trained interpreters who had additional research training was undertaken across two urban and two remote sites. Results: Views of decision-making about screening, diagnostic tests and termination for an abnormality varied amongst women within and between sites. Many had not heard of the tests and expressed concern about the ambiguity of results. Multiple causes were described as being responsibility for disability. Service providers outlined multiple barriers, not least the logistics. Conclusions: Cultural values and ways of decision making are important and need to be considered.