Assessment of attitudes towards assisted reproduction: a survey among medical students and parous women

The Association between Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) and Social Perception of Childbearing Deadline Ages: A Cross-Country Examination of Selected EU Countries

The advancement of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has gained much attention in relation to childbearing postponement. Our study's purpose was to empirically examine how perceptions of childbearing deadline age vary in association with availability and prevalence of ART across different countries. The present study used data from the 2006 European Social Survey and the 2006 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology to examine selected EU countries. A total sample of 17,487 respondents was examined. Multilevel regression modeling was used. Results showed that first, younger generations were more generous with maternal childbearing ages but stricter with paternal deadline ages. Second, respondents residing in countries with higher percentage of reproductive clinics per population were more generous with maternal ages, however no significant association was observed with regard to paternal childbearing ages. Third, on the contrary, respondents residing in countries with higher utilization of ART treatments were stricter with maternal ages, which may be because they are more likely to be aware of the physiological and financial difficulties associated with ART treatments. The present study is meaningful in that it is the first study to empirically examine social perceptions of childbearing ages in relation with ART.

Attitudes among paediatric healthcare professionals in Sweden towards sperm donation to single women: a survey study

Background

The number of families conceived through sperm donation to single women is increasing. However, there is limited knowledge about health care professionals’ attitudes towards solo-mothers by choice, and there is some indication that professionals’ personal opinions influence their care of individuals who use alternate ways to build a family. The primary aim of the study was to investigate attitudes towards, and experiences of, families following sperm donation to single women among healthcare professionals working in primary child healthcare.

Methods

Between April and November 2016 a total of 712 physicians, registered nurses and psychologists working within primary healthcare in Sweden were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey study. The study-specific questionnaire contained the following four domains: Attitudes towards legalization and financing, Attitudes towards the family and the child’s health, Clinical experience and Knowledge about sperm donation to single women.

Results

The majority of the participants were positive or neutral towards sperm donation being allowed to single women in Sweden. However, one third believed that children risk worse mental health and social stigma. Half of healthcare professionals had own clinical experience of caring for solo-mothers by choice and their children, and of these one third perceived that these families had more need of support than other parents. One out of four indicated that they did not have sufficient knowledge to be able to provide adequate care to these families.

Conclusions

The present results indicate that while there was a relatively large support for sperm donation being allowed to single women in Sweden among health care professionals, many expressed concerns about the child’s health, as well as low confidence in their knowledge about the specific needs in this patient group. There is a need for educational interventions targeted to healthcare professionals in primary child healthcare in order to provide adequate care to solo-mothers by choice and their children.

Empowering LGBTQ parents: How to improve maternity services and child healthcare settings for this community – ‘She told us that we are good as a family’

Parental empowerment plays an essential role in maternity and child healthcare. Professionals delivering these services are ideally placed to improve parents' empowerment and well-being. This study aims to describe the supporting factors of parental empowerment from the perspective of self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ) parents in Finland. The study was conducted using a qualitative inductive design, and 22 parents participated. Interviews were conducted between July and September of 2016 and analysed using inductive content analysis. Four categories emerged: 1) Parents' willingness to create socially recognized families, 2) Parenthood support, 3) Respectful partnership with all parents, and 4) Accessible services. Services were more empowering when parents were treated with dignity. This focus requires gender-neutral communication and a clear sense of security for parents. The findings indicate more education on LGBTQ-related issues is still needed.

The acceptability of stem cell-based fertility treatments for different indications

STUDY QUESTION

What is the acceptability of using stem cell-based fertility treatments (SCFT) for different indications according to gynaecologists and the general public?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The majority of gynaecologists and the general public accept SCFT for the indications female or male infertility in young heterosexual couples, and female infertility in single women and same-sex couples.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

SCFT could result in genetic parenthood for intended parents with indications that cannot be treated using currently available methods, such as being in a same-sex relationship or female post-menopausal age. It is unclear whether the acceptability of SCFT differs between indications for treatment and whether gynaecologists and the general public differ in their assessments.

STUDY DESIGN SIZE, DURATION

In November 2015, a cross-sectional survey was disseminated among 179 gynaecologists and a panel of 1250 respondents comprising a representative sample of the Dutch general public.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The potential indications for future SCFT to achieve genetic parenthood were identified by literature review. A questionnaire was developed, reviewed by experts from different disciplines and tested among the general public. The questionnaire asked whether treating eight groups of intended parents with SCFT was acceptable or not. Regression analysis examined whether demographic characteristics influenced choices and whether the general public and gynaecologists differed in opinion.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

A total of 82 (46%) gynaecologists and 772 (62%) members of the general public completed the survey. The acceptability of using SCFT varied according to both gynaecologists and the general public between the eight groups of intended parents (P < 0.001). The majority of the Dutch general public accepts SCFT for six out of eight possible indications, namely female infertility in young heterosexual couples (94%), male infertility in young heterosexual couples (94%), unexplained infertility in young heterosexual couples (83%), female infertility in single women (69%), lesbian couples (68%) and gay couples (62%). The majority of gynaecologists also found treating these groups acceptable, except for the indication of unexplained infertility, which was only accepted by a minority of gynaecologists (43%). A minority of both the general public and gynaecologists accepted SCFT for fertile women who want a child that is genetically only her own (27 and 6%, respectively) and for female infertility in heterosexual couples in which the woman is over 50 years of age (17% and 26%, respectively). Attaching low importance to religion, having progressive political preferences, not having a university degree, having experienced infertility, being a woman, being older and not being of European ethnicity were positively associated with considering using SCFT acceptable for one or multiple indications.

LARGE SCALE DATA

N/A.

LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION

The generalizability of our findings to future decades or other countries might be limited as opinions about novel technologies change over time and might vary across cultures. Support among gynaecologists and the general public is interesting but not proof of ethical acceptability.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Once proven safe and effective, fear of limited acceptability by the general public is unwarranted, and thus should not stop gynaecologists from offering SCFT to single infertile women and same-sex couples in addition to young infertile heterosexual couples.

STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S)

Funded by the Young Academy of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Universities of Amsterdam and Leuven. No conflict of interest to declare.

Decline in ethical concerns about reproductive technologies among a representative sample of US women

Public awareness and utilization of assisted reproductive technology has been increasing, but little is known about changes in ethical concerns over time. The National Survey of Fertility Barriers, a national, probability-based sample of US women, asked 2031 women the same set of questions about ethical concerns regarding six reproductive technologies on two separate occasions approximately 3 years apart. At Wave 1 (2004-2007), women had more concerns about treatments entailing the involvement of a third party than about treatments that did not. Ethical concerns declined between Wave 1 and Wave 2, but they declined faster for treatments entailing the involvement of a third party. Ethical concerns declined faster for women with greater levels of concern at Wave 1. Initial ethical concerns were higher, and there was less of a decline in ethical concerns for women with higher initial levels of religiosity.

The opinion of Iranian students about the society's perception on using surrogacy as an infertility treatment in the future community

BACKGROUND

Surrogacy is one of the challengeable treatments for infertility; therefore, it seems necessary to learn the attitutude of people toward it, especially the opinion of those who are working in infertility treatment. Students studying midwifery, medicine, psychology and law are involved in this process to various degrees. The aim of this study was to investigate the students' opinions about the perception of the society on using surrogacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The sample of this study included 200 students of the Isfahan University and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences from the following courses: Midwifery, Medicine, Psychology and Law. Since the number of students in different discipline was not equal, we therefore used quota sampling. The data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on their knowledge, attitude and surrogacy acceptance in the future in Iran.

RESULTS

The students of the medical course were mostly in the category "strongly agree" and "agree" with surrogacy (43 students which constitute 79.6%), then, midwifery students (15 students which constitute 78.9%) and finally, the students of other courses agreed less with this method. According to chi-square test, there was no significant difference between attitudes of students (P=0.08). Individuals mostly assert their acceptance of this method through "increasing tendency to this method in the future" (77.1%).

CONCLUSION

Students in this study had a positive attitude toward surrogacy and they accepted it as a norm; despite this, it is essential to make some changes within cultures to improve the situation.

Attitudes of graduating medical doctors toward using sex selection techniques in Jordan in 2009

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to describe the attitude of graduating medical doctors toward the use of sex selection techniques in Jordan in 2009. MATERIALS AND METHODS (DESIGN): A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess attitude toward using sex selection. Demographic variables, gender preference of future children, and score on attitude toward using technology scale were used as independent variables.

RESULTS

A total of 254 doctors (178 males, 76 females) completed the questionnaire. Forty-one (16.1%) doctors thought that sex selection as PGD should be strictly prohibited and 45 (17.7%) thought it should be allowed freely. More than half (54.7%) of them thought it should only be available for medical reason. Only 59 (23.2%) reported that they may consider the use of sex selection technology to choose their future children. Participants who preferred their firstborn child to be a boy or those who preferred their first born child to be a girl were more likely to use sex selection than those without preference. Christian participants were more likely to use sex selection technology than Muslim participants, 9 (47.4%) versus 50 (21.3%). For each one-point increase in Attitude score, the odds of using sex selection increased by 20%.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of graduating medical doctors believed that sex selection should be restricted and they were not willing to use it.