Objective
The objective of the study was to identify the factors that predict whether physicians
include pregnancy termination in their practices.
Study Design
We surveyed all 5055 obstetrician-gynecologists who became board certified between
1998 and 2001 about personal characteristics, career plans, intention to provide abortions
before residency, residency training, and current abortion practice.
Results
Of 2149 respondents (43%), 22% had provided elective abortion in the past year. In
multivariate analysis controlling for preresidency intentions, personal beliefs, and
other variables, the following were independently associated with current abortion
provision: completing a residency program with abortion training (odds ratio [OR],
1.6; confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.3; P = .007) and performing a greater number of abortions during residency (>25 abortions:
OR, 2.8; CI, 1.9-4.1; P < .001). Factors negatively associated with working in a practice (OR, 0.4; CI, 0.2-0.6;
P < .001) or hospital (OR, 0.4; CI, 0.3-0.6; P < .001) that prohibits abortion.
Conclusion
Regardless of intention to provide abortion before residency, abortion training availability
was positively correlated with providing abortion in future practice.
Key words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: November 05, 2007
Accepted:
June 5,
2007
Received in revised form:
March 29,
2007
Received:
January 2,
2007
Footnotes
Cite this article as: Steinauer J, Landy U, Filippone H, et al. Predictors of abortion provision among practicing obstetrician-gynecologists: A national survey. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008;198:39.e1-39.e6.
Reprints not available from the authors.
Supported in part by an anonymous foundation.
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
