In a new study published in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity (CORE) researchers Laura Swan, Abby Cutler, Madison Lands, Nicholas Schmuhl, and Jenny Higgins found that physicians’ beliefs about the safety of abortion are linked to their abortion care behaviors.
Specifically, physicians who underestimated the safety of abortion were less likely to have referred patients for abortion care.
In 2019, the team surveyed practicing physicians at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health about their abortion knowledge, beliefs, and practices. Understanding these beliefs and behaviors is important because misinformation about abortion care is common, even though standard abortion care is extremely safe and effective.
Four out of five (78%) of the surveyed Wisconsin physicians correctly reported that abortion is very or extremely safe. The remaining one-in-five physicians reported that abortion was somewhat, a little, or not at all safe.
Misinformation about abortion care is common, even though standard abortion care is extremely safe and effective.
Other findings:
- Ob-gyns (97%) were most likely to correctly state that abortion is very or extremely safe.
- Surgeons (67%) and pediatricians (75%) were the least likely to believe abortion to be very/extremely safe.
- Physicians who reported being exposed to abortion during their medical education were more likely to accurately report the safety of abortion.
Abortions are associated with extremely few adverse events, and having an abortion is upwards of 10 times safer than carrying a pregnancy to term and giving birth. The study findings indicate, however, that a concerning number of surveyed physicians had incorrect perceptions of the safety of abortion.
Additionally, the link between educational exposure to abortion and beliefs about abortion safety underscores the importance of training in this area.
Considering the current abortion policy landscape, it is imperative for physicians to hold accurate knowledge about abortion so they can provide appropriate counseling and, when indicated, referrals for safe and legal care.