What are women saying about noninvasive prenatal testing? An analysis of online pregnancy discussion forums

Objective The aim of this study was to explore what women are saying about noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in online discussion forums. Methods Inductive thematic analysis of content from 13 open-access discussion forums written in English from 11 popular maternity websites from four different countries (the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, and Australia) between 2013 to 2017 (n = 127 women). Results The forums were a space where women were provided with emotional support and advice in making their decision about NIPT as screening option. Justifications were made for paying for NIPT with terminology echoing commercial advertising "price was high horizontal ellipsis well worth the peace of mind." Paying for NIPT was referred to as a shopping exercise to find the "best deal." Women in the United States often talked about having to choose between NIPT and a scan because their insurance "won't pay for both." Commercial influence on maternity care providers' preference for different brands of NIPT was evident: "my doctor only uses [brand]. He said it's the best one on the market." Conclusion Our findings highlight women's need for experiential information in prenatal screening counselling and how NIPT commercialization influences both routinized perspectives, and access, which may affect informed choice and best evidence screening practice.