Prenatal Awareness of Nipt Among Rural Socio-Economic Demographic Population in A Tertiary Care Hospital – A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is an advanced prenatal screening method that analyses cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood and provides highly accurate screening for common chromosomal abnormalities. However, awareness and understanding of NIPT may remain limited, particularly among women from rural and socioeconomically diverse populations. This study assessed awareness of prenatal genetic screening, particularly NIPT, and evaluated its association with sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics.

Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 pregnant women attending the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Bellur, Mandya, India, during 2025–2026. Participants were assessed using a structured, pre-validated questionnaire covering demographic, obstetric, and prenatal screening-related knowledge. Awareness scores were categorized as low/inadequate or moderate/adequate. Associations were assessed using the Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of adequate awareness. A p-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Among 150 participants, 78.7% were from rural areas and 60.0% had secondary or lower education. The mean awareness score was 4.7 ± 2.1, with 63.3% demonstrating low/inadequate awareness and 36.7% demonstrating moderate/adequate awareness. Awareness of first-trimester ultrasound was 55.3%, while only 27.3% had heard of NIPT; 23.3% knew that NIPT uses maternal blood and 19.3% recognized it as a screening rather than diagnostic test. Awareness was significantly associated with age, education, trimester, residence, socioeconomic status, and parity (p<0.05). Graduate-level education or above was independently associated with higher awareness (adjusted OR 3.47, 95% CI: 1.52–7.92; p=0.003).

Conclusion: Awareness of prenatal genetic screening, particularly NIPT, was suboptimal among the study population. Knowledge gaps were prominent regarding the purpose, procedure, interpretation, and limitations of NIPT. Structured and culturally appropriate prenatal screening counselling during routine antenatal care, particularly for women with lower educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, may improve understanding and facilitate informed decision-making.