Perceptions of family planning and abortion education at a faith-based medical school

Abstract

Background: Because of religious beliefs against contraception and abortion, family planning education is limited at faith-based institutions. The purpose of this study was to assess medical students' satisfaction with family planning education at a faith-based medical school.

Study design: A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was designed and distributed to all second- and fourth-year students (n=273) at a faith-based medical school during the 2008-2009 academic year. The questionnaire included items on adequacy of and preference for amount and content of family planning preclinical education and clinical training.

Results: A total of 220 students completed the questionnaire for a response rate of 80.6%. The majority of respondents described the preclinical education as inadequate and preferred increased content on contraception (73.9%), sterilization (68.6%) and abortion (65.2%). The majority of fourth-year students reported appropriate contraceptive clinical training (69.0%), but inadequate sterilization training (54.8%) and abortion training (71.4%) during their third-year OB/GYN clerkship. Approximately half of fourth-year students (51.8%) desired clinical abortion training.

Conclusion: The majority of students enrolled at a faith-based medical school rated their current family planning education as inadequate and desired additional opportunities.