Abortion education in medical schools: a national survey.
OBJECTIVE
This survey was performed to examine the inclusion and extent of abortion education in US medical schools.


METHODS
A 3-item confidential survey requesting information about abortion education throughout the 4 years of medical school was mailed to the OB-GYN clerkship directors of the 126 accredited US medical schools.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight surveys were returned, for a response rate of 62%. Overall, 17% of clerkship directors reported no formal education about abortion either in the preclinical or clinical years. In the third-year OB-GYN rotation, 23% reported no formal education, whereas 32% offered a lecture specifically about abortion. While 45% of third-year rotations offered a clinical experience, participation was generally low. About half of schools offered a fourth-year reproductive health elective, but few students participated.


CONCLUSIONS
Abortion education is limited in US medical schools. As an integral part of women's reproductive health services, abortion education deserves a place in the curricula of all medical schools.
Espey
Eve
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA. eespey@salud.umn.edu
Ogburn
Tony
T
Chavez
Alice
A
Qualls
Clifford
C
Leyba
Mario
M
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000193:education*; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education; D011247:Pregnancy; D012577:Schools, Medical; D014481:United States