Contraception and Abortion Attitudes Among Military Medical Students: An Exploratory Study

Nicole M Mahr; Jill E Brown

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2024.110489

Contraception and Abortion Attitudes Among Military Medical Students: An Exploratory Study

Contraception. 2024 May 15:110489. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2024.110489. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Nicole M Mahr¹, Jill E Brown²

Affiliations

¹ Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814 USA. Electronic address: nicole.mahr@usuhs.edu.
² Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814 USA. Electronic address: jill.brown@usuhs.edu.

PMID: 38759941
DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2024.110489

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate military medical students' attitudes toward contraception and abortion after clerkships.

Study design: We adapted a survey of civilian medical student attitudes for military medical students. We asked how clerkships changed perspectives and comfort discussing these topics.

Results: Eighty-five (85%) of the one hundred respondents felt more comfortable discussing contraception and abortion after clerkships. More students changed their perspective on contraception than abortion (29% vs. 17%, p=0.043). Students noted limited exposure to abortion care.

Conclusions: Clerkships increased comfort discussing contraception and abortion, but were unlikely to change attitudes towards these topics. More exposure to abortion care is needed.

Keywords: abortion; clerkship; contraception; education; medical student.