Health-related information during pregnancy: new insights from “SaperePer” prenatal screening project

Abstract Background Recent advancements in health promotion and prenatal medicine have led to the widespread adoption of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) during pregnancy. In this context, understanding prenatal health information becomes crucial not only for the well-being of the mother but also for that of the unborn child. The analysis of health-related information during pregnancy is crucial, hence the “SaperePer” study aims to collect information regarding the knowledge of pregnant women about prenatal screening to tailor specific health promoting tools able to guide and support the women and couples in decision making towards the best choices for their health and the health of the baby. Methods A health-related questionnaire, which included different scales (Prenatal Health Behaviour Scale (PHBS), WHO quality of life (WHOQoL) and maternal antenatal attachment scale (MAAS)) was administered to pregnant women, aiming to study different outcomes: 1. NIPT knowledge level; 2. Number of screening tests undergone; 3. The willingness to undergo a diagnostic test after a high outcome risk of a screening test; 4. The willingness to terminate the pregnancy following a diagnosis of pathology. Results We analysed 750 women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Preliminary analyses showed direct correlations between higher health literacy levels, i.e. level of knowledge and number of NIPTs undergone, and higher levels of socioeconomic status (p < 0.01), degree of instruction (p < 0.01) and preliminary hospital counselling in person (p < 0.05). Other causal mediation analyses are still underway. Conclusions This study assessed health-related information during the initial and critical stages of pregnancy, offering new insights into how health literacy and appropriate prenatal counselling can enhance awareness and promote health among pregnant women, particularly those with lower educational or cultural resources. Key messages • Higher health literacy and appropriate prenatal counseling improve pregnant women's awareness, enabling informed decisions for both their own health and that of their unborn child. • This study highlights how factors such as educational level, socioeconomic status, and in-person hospital counseling significantly influence knowledge and uptake of non-invasive prenatal screening.