Family planning training in Maryland family practice and obstetrics/gynecology residency programs.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the extent of family planning and abortion training in Maryland family practice (FP) and obstetrics/gynecology (OB) residency training programs.

METHODS

All final-year residents in every FP and OB residency training program in Maryland were asked in 1998 how many cases (0, 1-10, > 10) of ten methods of contraception and abortion they had managed.

RESULTS

Seventy-five percent (55) of the 73 residents responded. Fifty percent of FP residents had never inserted an intrauterine device (IUD), 43% had never inserted an implant (Nor-plant), 37% had never prescribed emergency contraceptive pills, and 30% had never fitted a diaphragm. Ninety-seven percent of FP residents had no experience with elective termination of pregnancy, and 83% had no experience with sterilization. Twenty percent of OB residents had never inserted an IUD, 16% had never inserted implants or prescribed emergency contraceptive pills, 20% had never fitted a diaphragm, and 36% had no experience in elective termination of pregnancy. Not one FP resident had inserted or fitted more than ten IUDs, implants, diaphragms, or cervical caps. Except for oral and injectable contraception, the majority of OB residents had not managed more than ten cases of any other reversible contraceptive method: 80% had not inserted more than ten IUDs, 72% had not inserted more than ten implants, 88% had not fitted more than ten diaphragms, and 100% had not fitted more than ten cervical caps.

CONCLUSION

These survey results indicate a need for more formal instruction in most contraceptive methods for OB and FP residency programs in Maryland. This study concurs with previous national studies showing deficits in family planning training.