Characteristics Associated With Physician Bias in Contraceptive Recommendations

Objective

We aimed to examine associations between obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) contraceptive recommendations and sociodemographic characteristics of patients and recommending physicians.

Methods

OBGYNs affiliated with residency programs across the United States were recruited via email to participate in an online exploratory survey depicting scenarios of reproductive-age women of differing race and socioeconomic status, all other factors identical, and were asked to provide contraceptive recommendations. The χ² test, Fisher's exact tests, and logistic regression were used to analyze recommendation differences based on physician and patient characteristics.

Results

Of 172 physician respondents, large proportions self-identified as white (74%) and attending physicians (56%) from the Mid-Atlantic (42%). In multivariate logistic regression, self-administered methods (odds ratio [OR], 0.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2–0.8) and condoms (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3–0.9) were recommended significantly less to Black high SES patients compared with white high SES patients. Non-white physicians recommended tubal ligation (OR, 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5–0.9) significantly less than white physicians, and recommended long-acting reversible contraception (OR, 3.3, CI 2.2–5.2) and condoms (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1–1.9) significantly more. Trainee physicians recommended self-administered methods (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2–0.4), condoms (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.2–0.3), and tubal ligation (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3–0.6) significantly less than attending physicians.

Conclusions

OBGYN contraceptive recommendations differed based on patients’ perceived race and SES. Recommendations also differed based on race, training level, and geographic location of the recommending physician. Results suggest that physician bias contributes to contraceptive recommendations. OBGYNs should receive education about contraceptive coercion and patient-centered decision-making so that they provide high-quality counseling to all patients.