Prenatal Genetic Testing in Nigerian Primary Healthcare: Knowledge, Perceptions, and Attitudes Among Pregnant Women

While prenatal genetic testing (PGT) is becoming more accessible globally, there is limited empirical information on the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of pregnant women attending primary health centres for prenatal genetic testing, particularly in low-resource settings such as Oyo State, Nigeria. This study aimed to assess these factors in selected primary health centres within Oyo State. A cross-sectional study of 181 pregnant women chosen from three primary health centres was conducted via a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed via SPSS version 25.0, with descriptive statistics and logistic regression tests. The average respondent age was 26±4 years. Most (66.9%) had low knowledge of PGT, but 51.8% had positive perceptions of some ethical issues associated with PGT, and 68.5% had positive attitudes towards PGT. The level of education and parity were statistically significant determinants of pregnant women’s knowledge of prenatal genetic testing during pregnancy. Pregnant women in Oyo State have low PGT knowledge but positive attitudes, with decisions influenced by sociodemographic. Therefore, the government should prioritise affordable PGT, integrate genetic counselling into antenatal care, and address cultural sensitivities.