title: Pediatrician and parent: a challenge for female physicians.
abstract: Of 141 women who finished their pediatric residencies between 1960 and 1987, 84 (60%) completed questionnaires concerning their decisions regarding marriage, pregnancy, child care, and career. Eighty-three percent of the physicians were married, and 77% had natural-born children. The mean age at conception of the first child was 29 years, timing that was based on education or career stage for 51%. When the child was born, 45% of the women were employed, 20% were fellows, 17% were residents, 3% were undergraduate or medical students, and 15% were on leave. Eighty percent found supervisors and peers to be supportive of their pregnancies, but 26% believed they were penalized for their maternity leaves and 24% believed their pregnancies were actively discouraged. The mean leave taken following delivery was 12 weeks; the mean leave time considered ideal was 16 weeks. All women had used some form of day care, and 79% felt generally satisfied with its role in their children's rearing. They did more than 50% of the housework and in-home child care, with the remainder split between spouse and hired help, even though nearly two thirds were working full-time. All subjects with children would become parents again if they had to make the decision again. Eighty-one percent of respondents would go into medicine again; 79% would enter the same specialty. Most found their life-styles challenging but rewarding and, with the benefit of hindsight, would make the same choices again.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, California.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sells
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sells
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D002654:Child Care; D004651:Employment; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology*; D012380:Role; D013038:Specialization