Analytical report on the feasibility of using ethnic questions for risk status ascertainment in antenatal selective screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia: The findings of a formal trial of candiate questions

Two candidate evidence-based ethnic/family origin questions were tested in this formal trial to assess their efficacy in ascertaining risk status in selective antenatal

screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia.

One of these questions (Question A) is a classification question similar in structure to the 2001 Census England and Wales question but with extended categorisation to capture all appropriate risk groups and a “tick all that apply” method (as opposed to

categories) to capture mixed heritage; the other (Question B) is an open response ancestry or ethnic/family origins question, similar in type to those used in US and Canadian Censuses, but comprising an initial “screening” question to identify those with ancestors from areas of the world outside of the UK or Republic of Ireland followed by free text provision to write in countries of ethnic/family origin.