Attitudes of parents of retarded children toward voluntary sterilization.

132 parents of retarded children were investigated to determine their attitudes toward voluntary sterilization. Approval-disapproval intensity and information were measured. Attitudes were related to each other to religion and to geographic area. The results showed that 60% of the total sample approved sterilization. 72% of the Protestants 60% of the Jews 16% of the Catholics and 73% of those who failed to indicate their religion approved sterilization. There was a positive correlation between approval and intensity and information. Over 1/3 had lower approval scores because they believed that sterilization and castration were synonymous. The lack of information on this subject indicates a need for parental counseling. Further research is needed to analyze attitudes and to relate them to such variables as the childs age and IQ and his ability to sustain a stable marriage to rear children and to understand the meaning of the operation.