Personal experience with abortion influences how we practice as obstetrician–gynecologists

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate whether a personal history of having an abortion, or knowing someone close who did, has an impact on how a physician practices.

Methods

A web-based survey was sent to Ob/Gyn residents asking about personal abortion experience, demographics, religious background, political views, residency program metrics, and intent to provide abortion. Pearson Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests were performed to assess whether or not personal history of abortion (PHA) was significantly associated with personal characteristics or training patterns.

Results

Ob/Gyn residents with a personal history of abortion were older in age (p = 0.002), sought out additional training in family planning (p = 0.009), considered it extremely important that their program offers family planning training (p < 0.001), and were much more likely to intend to become an abortion provider themselves post-residency (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Personal experience is associated with training and practice patterns among Ob/Gyn residents, a finding that has implications for an Ob/Gyn workforce under pressure from increasing legislative restrictions to abortion care. Ob/Gyn residents should be supported in their training goals to combat moral injury associated with the inability to provide evidence-based care.