ArticlePrenatal diagnosis2025
Perspectives of Women of Advanced Maternal Age on Telephonic Genetic Counselling in a South African Public Healthcare Setting.
Article in Prenatal diagnosis, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Social stigma, genetic services, and South Africa: is testing taboo?Journal of community genetics · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift from in-person to telephonic genetic counselling (TGC) for advanced maternal age (AMA) patients at Groote Schuur Hospital. While prior studies suggest that telegenetics performs comparably to in-person counselling, little qualitative research exists in low-to-middle-income countries. This study explores AMA patients' experiences with TGC post-pandemic.
methodThis qualitative study used semi-structured interviews conducted in-person and telephonically, analysed through thematic data analysis following a phenomenological approach.
resultsParticipants had mixed experiences with TGC, influenced by trust-both in the genetic counsellor and the broader healthcare system. While most trusted their counsellor, some struggled with the lack of visual cues in the TGC session. Decision-making was shaped not only by risk perception and support systems, but also by emotional readiness, financial realities, and previous healthcare experiences. Participants valued TGC's convenience but noted limitations in emotional connection and partner involvement. Information sources varied, with some relying on the TGC session, while others sought additional online resources. The referral process from Midwife Obstetric Units was inconsistent, contributing to misunderstandings and broader distrust in the public health system.
conclusionDespite some challenges, most participants found TGC informative and beneficial for decision-making. Addressing structural barriers, clarifying referrals, and enhancing emotional engagement could enhance TGC services in similar settings.
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