Document Detail


Quality of offspring? Socio-cultural factors, pre-natal testing and reproductive decision-making in Japan.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19557585     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Japan is one of the few countries to have enacted legislation on eugenics. Consequently, there has been active public debate about the practice of selective abortion for over 35 years. Furthermore, discrimination against disabilities is deep-rooted in Japanese society and the quality of offspring is a common concern. Given this background, the obvious conclusion might be that couples in Japan would have no hesitation in using reproductive technologies to ensure the best possible chance of giving birth to higher quality offspring. Yet, research indicates that when it comes to decision-making in the course of a pregnancy, not all individuals choose testing or termination, even when prenatal diagnosis indicates the presence of congenital conditions. Other factors play a role in reproductive decision-making, including age at time of pregnancy and reproductive history including infertility treatment. Against this background, this paper analyses accounts of five pregnancies - two of which resulted in termination and three which went to full term despite receiving test results showing possible birth defects - with the aim of identifying factors influencing whether or not to terminate a pregnancy.
Authors:
Masae Kato
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Culture, health & sexuality     Volume:  12     ISSN:  1464-5351     ISO Abbreviation:  Cult Health Sex     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-14     Completed Date:  2010-07-14     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100883416     Medline TA:  Cult Health Sex     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  177-89     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden, Netherlands. m.kato@let.leidenuniv.nl
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abortion, Eugenic*
Culture*
Decision Making
Female
Genetic Testing
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Japan
Pregnancy
Prenatal Diagnosis*
Social Class*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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