Obstetrician-gynecologists' views on contraception and natural family planning: a national survey.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to characterize beliefs about contraception among obstetrician-gynecologists. STUDY DESIGN: National mailed survey of 1800 US obstetrician-gynecologists. Criterion variables were whether physicians have a moral or ethical objection to, and whether they would offer, 6 common contraceptive methods. Covariates included physician demographic and religious characteristics. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred fifty-four of 1760 eligible obstetrician-gynecologists responded (66%). Some obstetrician-gynecologists object to intrauterine devices (4.4% object, 3.6% would not offer), progesterone implants and/or injections (1.7% object, 2.1% would not offer), tubal ligations (1.5% object, 1.5% would not offer), oral contraceptive pills (1.3% object, 1.1% would not offer), condoms (1.3% object, 1.8% would not offer), and the diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide (1.3% object, 3.3% would not offer). Religious physicians were more likely to object (odds ratio, 7.4) and to refuse to provide a contraceptive (odds ratio, 1.9). CONCLUSION: Controversies about contraception are ongoing but among obstetrician-gynecologists, objections and refusals to provide contraceptives are infrequent.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Lawrence, RE; Rasinski, KA; Yoon, JD; Curlin, FA

Published Date

  • February 2011

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 204 / 2

Start / End Page

  • 124.e1 - 124.e7

PubMed ID

  • 21074134

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC3052964

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1097-6868

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.08.051

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States