Debra B Stulberg1, Annie M Dude, Irma Dahlquist, Farr A Curlin. 1. From the Departments of Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Medicine and the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate prevalence and correlates of abortion provision among practicing obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns) in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a national probability sample mail survey of 1,800 practicing ob-gyns. Key variables included whether respondents ever encountered patients seeking abortions in their practice and whether they provided abortion services. Correlates of providing abortion included physician demographic characteristics, religious affiliation, religiosity, and the religious affiliation of the facility in which a physician primarily practices. RESULTS: Among practicing ob-gyns, 97% encountered patients seeking abortions, whereas 14% performed them. Female physicians were more likely to provide abortions than were male (18.6% compared with 10.6%, adjusted odds ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.57-4.08), as were those in the youngest age group, those in the Northeast or West, those in highly urban postal codes, and those who identify as being Jewish. Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, non-Evangelical Protestants, and physicians with high religious motivation were less likely to provide abortions. CONCLUSION: The proportion of U.S. ob-gyns who provide abortions may be lower than estimated in previous research. Access to abortion remains limited by the willingness of physicians to provide abortion services, particularly in rural communities and in the South and Midwest. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate prevalence and correlates of abortion provision among practicing obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns) in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a national probability sample mail survey of 1,800 practicing ob-gyns. Key variables included whether respondents ever encountered patients seeking abortions in their practice and whether they provided abortion services. Correlates of providing abortion included physician demographic characteristics, religious affiliation, religiosity, and the religious affiliation of the facility in which a physician primarily practices. RESULTS: Among practicing ob-gyns, 97% encountered patients seeking abortions, whereas 14% performed them. Female physicians were more likely to provide abortions than were male (18.6% compared with 10.6%, adjusted odds ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.57-4.08), as were those in the youngest age group, those in the Northeast or West, those in highly urban postal codes, and those who identify as being Jewish. Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, non-Evangelical Protestants, and physicians with high religious motivation were less likely to provide abortions. CONCLUSION: The proportion of U.S. ob-gyns who provide abortions may be lower than estimated in previous research. Access to abortion remains limited by the willingness of physicians to provide abortion services, particularly in rural communities and in the South and Midwest. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.
Authors: Erika L Thompson; Helen Mahony; Charlotte Noble; Wei Wang; Robert Ziemba; Markku Malmi; Sarah B Maness; Eric R Walsh-Buhi; Ellen M Daley Journal: J Community Health Date: 2018-04
Authors: Niels Christian Hvidt; Farr Curlin; Arndt Büssing; Klaus Baumann; Eckhard Frick; Jens Søndergaard; Jesper Bo Nielsen; Ryan Lawrence; Giancarlo Lucchetti; Parameshwaran Ramakrishnan; Inga Wermuth; René Hefti; Eunmi Lee; Alex Kappel Kørup Journal: J Relig Health Date: 2021-10-01