Down Syndrome Screening among Pregnant Women Visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a Tertiary Care Centre.

INTRODUCTION: The screening of Down's syndrome by the measurement of serum markers using dual and quadruple tests in the second trimester is done among obstetric patients between 13 to 22 weeks of gestation. The test readings are signified in terms of low-risk or high-risk. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of Downs syndrome screening among pregnant women visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care centre.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 April 2022 to 15 December 2022 among patients visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary care centre. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee. Women with a singleton pregnancy who underwent dual and quadruple screening tests at 11 to 22 weeks of gestation were taken and analysed as per reports. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval.

RESULTS: Among 268 women, Down syndrome screening was done in 200 (74.63%) (69.42-79.84, 95% Confidence Interval). Among them, 168 (84%) had a low risk for Down syndrome, and 32 (16%) had a high risk for Down syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Downs syndrome screening among pregnant women visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary care centre was found to be similar to other studies done in similar settings.

KEYWORDS: down syndrome; nuchal translucency; screening.