Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist survey on abortion training and service provision

Abstract Following a collaborative workshop at the 39th Annual Pregnancy Meeting, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Reproductive Health Advisory Group identified a need to assess attitudes of maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists about abortion services and available resources at the local and regional levels. The purpose of this study was to identify trends in attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of practicing maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists in the United States regarding abortion. An online survey was distributed to Associate and Regular members of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine assessing their personal training experience, abortion practice patterns, factors that influence their decision to provide abortion care, and their responses to a series of scenarios about high-risk maternal or fetal medical conditions. Frequencies were analyzed and univariable and multivariable analyses of survey responses were conducted. Of the 2,751 members contacted, 546 SMFM members who completed all (448 of 546, 82.1%) or some (98 of 546, 17.9%) of the survey. Over 80% of respondents reported availability of abortion in their state, 70% reported availability in their primary institution, and 44% reported provision as part of their personal medical practice. Ease of referral to family planning subspecialists or other abortion providers, institutional restrictions, and the lack of training or continuing education were identified as the most significant factors in respondent’s limiting their scope of abortion services or not performing abortion. In univariable analysis, exposure to formal family planning training programs, fewer years since residency completion, current practice setting not being religiously affiliated, and current state categorized as supportive by the Guttmacher Institute’s abortion policy landscape were associated with abortion provision (all P