267407 Impact of religious beliefs of doctors on reproductive health and doctor recommended female sterilization among California women, 2009

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Patricia Lee, PhD , Office of The Medical Director, Department of Health Care Services, Sacramento, CA
Terri A. Thorfinnson, JD , Office of Women's Health, California Dept of Health Services, Sacramento, CA
Background: Denial of reproductive health care because of providers' religious beliefs has led to debate about the role of conscience objection in health care. Female sterilization is the second leading contraception method in the U.S. and tubal ligation is the third most popular contraceptive of California women. Rates of female sterilization vary by education level, income, and health insurance.

Objective: To examine the denial of reproductive health care because of providers' religious beliefs and assess doctor recommended female sterilization among California women. Method: California women ages 18 and older completed a telephone health survey. Group differences were evaluated using Chi Square statistics. Results: About 1.3% of women reported being denied reproductive health care because of providers' religious beliefs. About 7.7% of women ages 18-49 and 7.1% of women over 50 reported their doctor had recommended sterilization. Women ages 18-49, with a less than a high school education, reported significantly higher rates of doctor recommended sterilization (17.5 percent) than women in other educational groups. Regardless of age group, women at or below 200% of the federal poverty level reported significantly higher rates of doctor recommended sterilization than women above that level; however, there was no significant difference in health insurance status concerning doctor recommended sterilization. Also, for women over 50, there was no significant difference in education level.

Conclusion: There was a trend towards sterilization for low-income and less educated women. It is important to monitor whether women are getting the appropriate health education information to make informed contraceptive method decisions.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss how religious beliefs impact women’s assess to reproductive health 2. List demographic characteristics related to doctor recommend female sterilization

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I co-chair the multi-disciplinary interdepartmental California Women’s Health Survey (CWHS) group and coordinate publications using data from the survey. I conduct scientific epidemiological study, including the development of research questions, statistical methods, data analyses, and conclusions. Using scientific analysis of survey data, I identify and assess the distribution of key indicators of health status and risk factors among California women, and evaluate access to appropriate health care services, and outcomes of specific interventions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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