Predictors of abortion provision among practicing obstetrician-gynecologists: a national survey.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to identify the factors that predict whether physicians include pregnancy termination in their practices.


METHODS
We surveyed all 5055 obstetrician-gynecologists who became board certified between 1998 and 2001 about personal characteristics, career plans, intention to provide abortions before residency, residency training, and current abortion practice.


RESULTS
Of 2149 respondents (43%), 22% had provided elective abortion in the past year. In multivariate analysis controlling for preresidency intentions, personal beliefs, and other variables, the following were independently associated with current abortion provision: completing a residency program with abortion training (odds ratio [OR], 1.6; confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.3; P = .007) and performing a greater number of abortions during residency (>25 abortions: OR, 2.8; CI, 1.9-4.1; P < .001). Factors negatively associated with working in a practice (OR, 0.4; CI, 0.2-0.6; P < .001) or hospital (OR, 0.4; CI, 0.3-0.6; P < .001) that prohibits abortion.


CONCLUSIONS
Regardless of intention to provide abortion before residency, abortion training availability was positively correlated with providing abortion in future practice.
Steinauer
Jody
J
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Landy
Uta
U
Filippone
Heidi
H
Laube
Douglas
D
Darney
Philip D
PD
Jackson
Rebecca A
RA
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011216:Practice Management, Medical; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States