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Peer-reviewedCC BYJournal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa

Family planning knowledge and practices among physicians in academic centres in Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Alison B. Rothman1
  • Shastra A. Bhoora2
  • Jarrod Zamparini3
  1. 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
  2. 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Baylor College, Texas
  3. 3Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg Department of Obstetric Internal Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Johannesburg
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Abstract

Background: Specialists in Internal Medicine may manage women of childbearing age, but data regarding their family planning knowledge and prescribing practices are lacking. This study aimed to assess the family planning knowledge and prescribing practices of Consultants and Trainee Physicians (Registrars) in three academic hospitals in Johannesburg and to identify barriers to effective contraceptive counselling for women with chronic medical conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Consultants and Registrars in Internal Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand. Likert-scale items assessed attitudes to contraceptive prescribing, and single-best-answer questions assessed contraceptive knowledge. Descriptive statistics summarised demographics, and Poisson regression identified factors associated with higher scores; p 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 82 respondents (35% response rate), with a median age of 32 years (interquartile range 30–37), 47 (57.3%) were female, and 54 (65.9%) were Registrars. Fifty respondents (61%) had high attitude scores, but the median knowledge was 53.8%, and only 34/82 (41.5%) respondents achieved the pragmatic threshold of ≥ 10/13 for adequate knowledge. Key barriers were high workload and lack of sexual and reproductive health training. Married respondents were more likely than single respondents to have high attitude scores (PRR 1.83, 95% CI 1.05–3.17), while male doctors had higher practice scores than female doctors (PRR 1.92, 95% CI 1.14–3.26). No variables were associated with high objective assessment scores. Conclusion: Gaps in contraceptive knowledge and decision-making amongst Consultants and Trainee Physicians highlight the need for improved education to support comprehensive care for women of childbearing age, especially those with medical comorbidities. Contribution: This study highlights the importance of collaboration between Internal Medicine and Gynaecological specialities in a combined effort to reduce unwanted and high-risk pregnancies to promote the overall health of women, especially those living with medical conditions.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{rothman2026family,
  title = {{Family planning knowledge and practices among physicians in academic centres in Johannesburg, South Africa}},
  author = {Alison B. Rothman and Shastra A. Bhoora and Jarrod Zamparini},
  journal = {Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.4102/jcmsa.v4i1.343},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.4102/jcmsa.v4i1.343},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Family planning knowledge and practices among physicians in academic centres in Johannesburg, South Africa
AU  - Alison B. Rothman
AU  - Shastra A. Bhoora
AU  - Jarrod Zamparini
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa
DO  - 10.4102/jcmsa.v4i1.343
UR  - https://doi.org/10.4102/jcmsa.v4i1.343
AB  - Background: Specialists in Internal Medicine may manage women of childbearing age, but data regarding their family planning knowledge and prescribing practices are lacking. This study aimed to assess the family planning knowledge and prescribing practices of Consultants and Trainee Physicians (Registrars) in three academic hospitals in Johannesburg and to identify barriers to effective contraceptive counselling for women with chronic medical conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Consultants and Registrars in Internal Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand. Likert-scale items assessed attitudes to contraceptive prescribing, and single-best-answer questions assessed contraceptive knowledge. Descriptive statistics summarised demographics, and Poisson regression identified factors associated with higher scores; p 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 82 respondents (35% response rate), with a median age of 32 years (interquartile range 30–37), 47 (57.3%) were female, and 54 (65.9%) were Registrars. Fifty respondents (61%) had high attitude scores, but the median knowledge was 53.8%, and only 34/82 (41.5%) respondents achieved the pragmatic threshold of ≥ 10/13 for adequate knowledge. Key barriers were high workload and lack of sexual and reproductive health training. Married respondents were more likely than single respondents to have high attitude scores (PRR 1.83, 95% CI 1.05–3.17), while male doctors had higher practice scores than female doctors (PRR 1.92, 95% CI 1.14–3.26). No variables were associated with high objective assessment scores. Conclusion: Gaps in contraceptive knowledge and decision-making amongst Consultants and Trainee Physicians highlight the need for improved education to support comprehensive care for women of childbearing age, especially those with medical comorbidities. Contribution: This study highlights the importance of collaboration between Internal Medicine and Gynaecological specialities in a combined effort to reduce unwanted and high-risk pregnancies to promote the overall health of women, especially those living with medical conditions.
SN  - 3105-4331
SN  - 2960-110X
ER  -