The influence of faith and religion and the role of religious and community leaders in prenatal decisions for sickle cell disorders and thalassaemia major

Abstract

The findings emphasise the importance of recognising diversity within different faith groups and moving away from stereotypical views based on people's ethnicity or religion, and to consider the beliefs and preferences of individuals.

‘All is done by Allah’. Understandings of Down syndrome and prenatal testing in Pakistan

“…Participants who expressed unfavourable attitudes towards prenatal testing and abortion framed their response within theological discourses while those with favourable attitudes employed discourses of emotional, financial and (particularly) social burden. Again, these different response to prenatal testing technologies have been identified previously in Muslim populations (Ahmed, Atkin, Hewison, & Green, 2006;Bywaters, Ali, Fazil, Wallace, & Singh, 2003;Croot et al, 2008). Belief that Allah determines the circumstances of the birth of a child with DS did not mean that participants rejected biological explanations of etiology; instead, theology appeared to provide a higher-level explanatory framework.…”

Sickle Cell Anemia—Molecular Diagnosis and Prenatal Counseling: SGPGI Experience

“…Accurate testing and counseling is more important in antenatal diagnosis cases as decision about termination of pregnancy has to be taken by couples on the basis of the facts presented to them. There can be diversity in decision-making depending on the faith and religion and this should be kept in mind while counseling the families [20]. The preference for male child in some societies like in some ethnic groups in India can also affect the family's approach for medical care, as exemplified by family 3.…”

Decision-Making and Ante-Natal Screening for Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Disorders

“…2 A previous paper describes the responses of the faith groups in more detail (Ahmed et al, 2006). This paper contextualizes their experience in relation to the comments of faith and religious scholars, interviewed as part of the research.…”