Medical students' attitudes toward abortion and other reproductive health services
Rosenblatt, R.A.; Robinson, K.B.; Larson, E.H.; Dobie, S.A.
Family Medicine 31(3): 195-199
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0742-3225 PMID: 10086256 Document Number: 503167
This paper investigated the attitude toward abortion and other reproductive health services of first- and second-year medical students at the Seattle campus of the University of Washington, a large regional primary care-oriented medical school, in 1996-97. A total of 219 (76.6%) students responded. The majority of the students support the availability of a broad range of reproductive health services including abortion; 58.1% felt that first-trimester abortions should be available to patients under most circumstances. Of the 43.4% of students who anticipated a career in family practice, most expected to provide abortions in their future practices. Moreover, older students and women were more likely to support the provision of abortion services. This study concludes that despite the continuing pressure on abortion providers, most first- and second-year medical students at a fairly state-supported medical school intend to incorporate this procedure into their future practices.