title: Ethical and social issues facing obstetricians in low-income countries.
abstract: A review of publications on ethical and social issues from low-income countries was done with the aim of highlighting the major ethical and social issues facing obstetricians in these countries. Low-income countries were identified using the World Health Organization income group classification of member nations. Obstetricians in low-income countries face a wide range of special social and ethical issues that reflect the peculiarities of their practice environment characterized by poverty, low education, deep attachment to tradition and culture, low social status of women, and high levels of physician's paternalism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. chchigbu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Chigbu Chibuike
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ogwuegbu
authors.forename: Onah Hyacinth
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Eze
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D003469:Culture; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000941:ethics*; D026706:Paternalism; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011203:Poverty / Q000941:ethics; D012931:Social Environment