A survey of obstetrician-gynecologists' abortion attitudes and performances

Attitudes toward general and repeat abortion are examined in a probability sample of board certified obstetrician-gynecologists in three Mid-Atlantic states. A mail-back questionnaire yielded seventy per cent response rate. A typology of abortion attitudes was developed by combining scores on two Guttman scales, one general acceptance and one repeat abortion acceptance scale. This resulted in six types varying from conservative to liberal. Personal and work setting characteristics were examined as correlates of abortion attitude. Personal characteristics are correlated; work setting characteristics are not. Obstetrician-gynecologists; abortion attitudes and performances are related.