A global study on the abortion views and knowledge of trainee obstetrician-gynecologists.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the knowledge and views of trainee obstetrician-gynecologists (ObGyn) on abortion.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of trainee ObGyn was conducted by the World Association of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynecology. A study-specific questionnaire designed using Google Forms® was utilized for the study. The questionnaire was distributed electronically to study participants, to gather information on their sociodemographic characteristics, opinions, knowledge, and training on abortion. Collected data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS, version 25.

RESULTS

Most (140, 74.8%) trainee ObGyn reported that abortion was legal in their countries and most (171, 91.4%) supported the legalization of abortion. Eleven (5.9%) trainees who did not support the legalization of abortion cited religious concerns as their most common reason (5/11, 45.5%). Nearly three-quarters (133, 71.1%) of the trainees would perform an abortion on request. Most of the trainees reported that abortion education was included in the medical school curricula (131, 70.1%) and the ObGyn residency training programs (155, 82.9%) in their countries. Notwithstanding, 36.4% (68) either did not know or did not correctly know the legal status of abortion in their countries.

CONCLUSION

There is some disparity between ObGyn trainees' knowledge of safe abortion and their awareness of the legality of the same in their countries. There is a need for all countries to include abortion education in the curricula of medical schools and all ObGyn residency programs should offer abortion training to all residents. There is a need for increased advocacy for the legalization of abortion in countries where abortion remains criminalized.