Loading...
Women from many cultures request female clinicians for intrapartum care. Investigators interviewed 10 obstetric residents (mean age, 29; 7 female) and 10 general obstetricians (mean age, 46; 6 female) at a Canadian hospital with a large immigrant clientele. Structured questions addressed clinicians' sex as a barrier during labor and delivery, antenatal discussions with patients, and suggestions for addressing the issue.
All respondents expressed a desire to be supportive of women who request female providers, but none supported always accommodating this request. Reasons included gender discrimination against clinicians that superseded the principle of patient-centered care, request made by male partner or family member rather than the patien…