The Opinions of Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology on the Indications for Pregnancy Termination in Poland—A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study

Kornelia Zaręba (), Valentina Lucia La Rosa, Stanisław Wójtowicz, Ewelina Kołb-Sielecka, Jolanta Banasiewicz, Michał Ciebiera and Grzegorz Jakiel
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Kornelia Zaręba: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates
Valentina Lucia La Rosa: Unit of Psychodiagnostics and Clinical Psychology, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Stanisław Wójtowicz: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Communication, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
Ewelina Kołb-Sielecka: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
Jolanta Banasiewicz: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Communication, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
Michał Ciebiera: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
Grzegorz Jakiel: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: The physician’s decision concerning pregnancy termination is influenced by a number of factors. The study aimed at obtaining the opinions of obstetricians and gynecologists with regard to the indications for pregnancy termination, the readiness to perform the procedure personally and the assessment of the determinants thereof. The survey study was conducted between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 among physicians who performed diagnostic prenatal ultrasonography. A considerable majority of physicians participating in the study did not approve of termination without medical indications (62.5%). A marked majority of them considered the following cases as indications for pregnancy termination: severe fetal defects (90%), lethal defects (91.5%) and a disease threatening maternal life (91.5%). A small group of physicians declared that they were ready to perform a termination without medical indications (12.5%). However, they were ready to perform a pregnancy termination personally in cases of threat to maternal life (77.5%), severe fetal defects (75%), lethal fetal defects (75%) and a pregnancy being a result of rape (75%). No statistical significance was observed with regard to the influence of the respondents’ sex, the fact of having children or the workplace on the issue of indications for pregnancy termination. It seems justified to develop case-centered counseling concerning abortion, based on specialists in perinatology, law and ethics, especially in countries with more restrictive abortion law or strongly religious societies.

Keywords: abortion; physician attitude; abortion law (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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