Intimate examinations: use of chaperones in community-based family planning clinics

We examined women's preferences regarding the use of chaperones during intimate examinations by a female doctor or nurse in community-based family planning clinics. An anonymous questionnaire was completed before consultation and examination by 126 women attending five family planning clinics selected to cover a range of social and ethnic groups. The questionnaire explored women's views regarding intimate examinations by a woman and the presence of a chaperone. A clear majority (107 vs 19) of our community clinic users preferred to be alone with the woman doctor or nurse during an internal examination. There was no significant difference in preference or strength of feeling when analysed by age, ethnicity or previous experience.