Future abortion provision among US graduating obstetrics and gynecology residents, 2004

BackgroundThis study was conducted to identify characteristics associated with US obstetric and gynecology graduating residents' intention to provide pregnancy termination services in their clinical practice.Study DesignIn this cross-sectional study, we surveyed all 1148 fourth-year residents in obstetrics and gynecology graduating from US training programs in 2004.ResultsOf 494 respondents, 187 (39%) planned to perform elective abortions after residency. In multivariable analysis controlling for various factors, the following were independently associated with plans to perform pregnancy termination in the future: pre-residency intentions to provide pregnancy termination [odds ratio (OR), 10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 5.3–18.9; p<.001], performing more than 50 first-trimester abortions during residency (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.3–19.6; p=.02) and plans to enter academic practice (OR, 2.5; 95% CI 1.1–6.2; p=.04).ConclusionsIntentions before residency to provide pregnancy termination services was the strongest predictor of future abortion provision.