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Mode of Conception of Twin Pregnancies: Willingness to Reply to Survey Items and Comparison of Survey Data to Hospital Records

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt ,
Chantal Hoekstra ,
Roel Schats ,
Grant W. Montgomery ,
Gonneke Willemsen  and
Dorret I. Boomsma
C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands. [email protected]
Chantal Hoekstra
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Roel Schats
Affiliation:
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility and the IVF Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Grant W. Montgomery
Affiliation:
Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
Gonneke Willemsen
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Dorret I. Boomsma
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
*
*Address for correspondence: C. E. M van Beijsterveldt, Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Abstract

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Based on results from a survey study in a sample of Australian parents of twins, Raj and Morley (2007) reported that questions concerning the mode of conception of twins may be offensive to parents. We looked at the willingness to reply to questions about mode of conception of twin pregnancies in a large survey study that was completed by 20,150 mothers of twins from the Netherlands Twin Registry. Data collection took place in 2005/2006. The amount of missing data was examined and by using data from earlier survey studies, responders and nonresponders were compared with respect to their answers to questions on assisted reproduction techniques. In addition, we assessed the reliability of the question on mode of conception by comparing the survey data with hospital records in a subsample of 80 mothers of twins. We found no indication that mothers of twins were not prepared to reply to questions on mode of conception. Only a small number of mothers did not fill in the question on mode of conception (0.8%). Also, the use of artificial fertility techniques did not differ between mothers who returned and mothers who did not return the 2005/2006 survey. The comparison of the survey data with the hospital records showed that mothers can accurately report on the mode of conception of their twins.

Type
Articles
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , 01 June 2008 , pp. 349 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008