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Biomedical subjects

C A Nathanson

Publications and source records attributed to C A Nathanson.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Physician behavior as a determinant of utilization patterns: the case of abortion.

Health services utilization may be influenced by the structure of the health system and the behavior of health professionals as well as by the actions of individual patients. This research examines the responses of obstetricians toward women seeking abortion. The population for this study includes all obstetrician-gynecologists with any private practice in Maryland during 1975 (473). Each responding physician (443) was presented with a case history vignette describing, in a telephone interview, a woman who is pregnant and considering an abortion. The sociodemographic characteristics of the woman were systematically varied to determine effects of patient attributes on physicians' patient management decisions. Decisions to refer the patient or to participate personally in her care were found to be associated most strongly with the patients' financial resources. Three hundred and twelve obstetricians returned a mail questionnaire, probing their own attitudes and characteristics. Physicians' liberal or conservative attitudes toward expansion of reproductive health care services and their level of disturbance by the abortion procedure were also influential in these patient management decisions. Simultaneous examination of both patient and physician characteristics indicated that the former had the greater weight in accounting for referral decisions.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1977

Sex roles as variables in preventive health behavior.

Preventive health behavior is broadly defined to encompass a spectrum of actions that range from voluntary exposure to the risk of disease, injury, or death to active efforts at prevention or detection of disease. Data are presented to show that men, in our culture engage in more risk-taking behavior and take preventive measures less frequently than women, while women avoid risks and take preventive action, particularly when this action requires medical intervention. The literature review supports the hypothesis that these differences in behavior arise out of the socialization and adult role patterns that our society defines as appropriate for each sex. Women, in particular, are encouraged to define their problems in medical terms and to seek help for them within the medical care system.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of fertility intentions on behavior: the case of sterilization.

In this paper, we take a new approach to the question of whether or not intentions regarding future fertility affect fertility-related behavior. Our approach has three principal features: 1) it takes sterilization as its outcome, rather than pregnancy or birth; 2) it is based on a conceptual model in which fertility-related behavior is seen as determined by a long-range planning process, modified by unanticipated life course contingencies; and 3) it uses data on desired total family size. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, we find that achieving one's desired parity has a strong, persistent, and positive effect on the probability of sterilization, supporting our view of the long-term nature of fertility intentions. People do modify their behavior in the face of unanticipated contingencies, but those effects are unexpectedly small.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Consistency of condom use for disease prevention among adolescent users of oral contraceptives.

A six-month prospective study examined consistency of condom use for disease prevention among 308 adolescent women who had received a prescription for oral contraceptives at a family planning clinic. Only 16 percent used condoms consistently over a six-month period, yet 30 percent were considered at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) because of multiple, sequential or concurrent relationships with male partners. The type of relationship in which the adolescents were involved did not predict consistency of condom use. Consistent condom use was associated with having asked a partner to use a condom, perceiving partner support for condom use, having less frequent sexual intercourse and using oral contraceptives inconsistently. The findings suggest that family planning providers need to more strongly emphasize to adolescents the importance of consistent condom use to protect against STD infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

AIDS knowledge, perceived risk and prevention among adolescent clients of a family planning clinic.

In a survey that measured AIDS knowledge, perceived risk and prevention among 404 sexually active adolescent women who were family planning clinic patients in Baltimore, knowledge about AIDS was high, with the average respondent answering seven out of nine questions correctly. Slightly more than half of the teenagers reported some degree of perceived risk that they could get AIDS. However, perceived AIDS risk was not predictive of condom use at last intercourse. The strongest predictor of condom use was having asked a partner to use one, suggesting that adolescent women may exert a greater influence on condom use than has been previously assumed. The analyses result in recommendations that personalized AIDS prevention programs be integrated into family planning programs, that adolescent clients be advised to use condoms with spermicides, and that they be assisted in acquiring the social skills needed to negotiate condom use with partners.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Abortion attitudes and performance among male and female obstetrician-gynecologists.

Recently trained female obstetrician-gynecologists in active practice have more favorable attitudes toward abortion than do recently trained male ob-gyns, and the former also are more likely to provide abortions. However, since female providers perform fewer abortions than do male providers, women's contribution to the overall volume of abortions performed is no higher than expected. In a multivariate analysis, abortion attitudes proved to be the strongest predictor of whether or not a physician provides abortions, but practice-related variables are stronger predictors of the number of abortions performed. Factors related to policy issues, such as state funding of abortions for poor women and hospital policies with respect to abortion provision, had statistically significant effects on physicians' abortion performance.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of physicians' attitudes on abortion performance, patient management and professional fees.

Although religion is the most powerful predictor of whether a doctor will perform any abortions, satisfaction with his or her patients and emotional reaction to the abortion procedure powerfully affect the physician's practice. Doctors who are most satisfied with their patients are less likely to ask unmarried teens for parental consent and to charge lower fees. Physicians who are severely disturbed over abortion perform terminations less frequently and more often ask spousal or parental consent--but charge lower fees and are more likely to accept Medicaid patients.

Abortion, Induced↗