Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Training on Caring for Incarcerated Patients: A National Survey of Programs.

Abstract

Reproductive health needs of incarcerated individuals are complex due to multiple forms of structural oppression, but little is known about the present state of obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) resident training on providing reproductive health care to this rapidly growing population. Through this cross-sectional study, program leaders at all United States Ob/Gyn residency programs were emailed a survey in 2022. Among respondent programs (response rate of 38%), 81% have opportunities for residents to see incarcerated patients in a clinical setting, but only 23% have mandatory didactic content on caring for this population. There is a glaring gap in Ob/Gyn resident education on caring for incarcerated patients, even though residents are actively treating these patients. Furthermore, although most program leaders believe that training residents to care for this population is important, programs are not equipped to do so because of various barriers, including limited faculty expertise and competing educational requirements.