Das Wissen in der Bevölkerung über angeborene Fehlbildungen und Down-Syndrom unter Berücksichtigung demographischer und biographischer Faktoren
This examination is concerned with the level of knowledge in the population about congenital malformations and Down’s syndrome under consideration of demographic and biographic features of the respondents.The data of the 2005 evaluated questionnaires (return quota: 66.8%) were examined with uni- and multivariate methods of analysis.Regarding to the level of knowledge about congenital malformations following turned out:the respondents know more about the causes than of the prevalence and incidence of congenital malformations. Furthermore, it becomes clear that there is a tendency of overrating the causes of congenital malformations. In contrast to the questions concerning aetiology 80% of the questions about prevalence and incidence are correctly assessed of less than 50% of the respondents. In this connection it is conspicuous that there is a wrong idea about what congenital malformations are. The answers of the respondents also confirm that prejudices exist. In the end these images lead to an overrating of the frequency of congenital malformations in Germany: 29.2% of the respondents estimate the frequency of congenital malformations at more than 10% (reality: 2-8%).Concerning the level of knowledge about Down’s syndrome following is established:Approximately 70% of the respondents give the right answers in 75% of the questions about external symptoms and features of Down’s syndrome e.g. characteristic features of the face.On the other hand there is a lack of knowledge about serious symptoms like lower life expectancy or the existing of internal malformations and mental handicap.Regarding to the aetiology of Down’s syndrome insecurity and ignorance are striking at approximately 33% of the respondents. In this context the term “chromosomal anomaly” is associated with Down’s syndrome, but its meaning seems to be unclear.Finally 76.1% of the respondents know that the risk to give birth to a child with Down’s syndrome is higher for a 40 year old woman than for a 25 year old woman. But 90.1% overrate the risk for the 40 year old woman partially considerably. 45.6% of the respondents estimate the risk higher than 10%! The real risk is at approximately 1%.In reference to demographic and biographic factors of influence it appears that the factors “highest reached level of education” and “sex” have the highest importance concerning the knowledge. That means that school-leaver with the Abitur and women are comparatively better informed.Furthermore the factors “professional group” (medical/pedagogical job), “age” (20-45 years) and “own experience with malformations” have a positive effect on the knowledge. There is no notable influence for the examined factors “child”, “desire for a child”, “miscarriage” and “marital status”.These findings show that especially young persons under 20 years should be informed about congenital malformations and Down’s syndrome because their family planning is approaching. Special attention should be focused on pupils of “Hauptschule” and “Realschule”. Also men have a need for education.If through special education the level of knowledge in the population about congenital malformations and Down’s syndrome would be improved existing attitudes concerning these subjects could be considered and eventually changed. This is the condition for objective discussion of these subjects in private circle (e.g. in case of direct concerning) as well as in official and political circle.
info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/610, Medizin, Wissen, Angeborene Fehlbildungen, Down-Syndrom, Einflußfaktoren
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