Impact of female gender and perspectives of pregnancy on admission in residency programs

Abstract

BackgroundMotherhood is a demanding part of any women’s life. Female interns could encounter difficulties during selection for residency program according to their plans of conceiving. Our aim is to explore the influence of female gender on the selection process of residency programs.MethodA cross sectional study was conducted in 2016 at a University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Female residents and chief of departments were interviewed about the impact of the timing of motherhood during residency on the interview for admission. The questionnaire reviewed concerns among female Lebanese medical residents as well as the head of departments revolving around the choice of opting for motherhood and the decision of integrating into a residency program while juggling motherhood responsibilities.ResultsEighty nine female residents and 22 head of department agreed to participate in this study. During the interviews for residency acceptance, 29 residents (34.5%) were directly asked about their family and motherhood plans; 9% of them did not reveal their intention. 35% of the residents thought that this subject could affect the program directors’ decision. 47% of residents felt that having pregnant colleagues would add to their workload, and almost half of them (46%) believed that pregnant colleagues showed less productivity. 45% of program directors stated that it was an important factor taken into consideration during the interview, and 68% believed that residents tended to choose their specialty according to their life priorities.ConclusionPregnancy during residency training represents major challenges for female residents and their program directors. Rules and laws designed to set a balance between career and personal life are required to improve women’s ability to participate equally in the workforce.

Motherhood and medicine: systematic review of the experiences of mothers who are doctors

“…A Japanese survey (224 respondents) found that 38% of female surgeons changed their work plans to accommodate childcare; further, acute childhood illnesses, educational activities, and parenting responsibilities affected decisions about work, and 11% had resigned their jobs . Time required for parenting also affected working hours . Two US studies reported that female surgeons undertook a greater share of childcare planning and domestic activities than male surgeons .…”

“…The second subtheme concerned perceptions of pregnancy and motherhood, discussed in four studies from the viewpoint of the colleagues of female doctors and program directors . In three studies, conducted in the Lebanon, South Africa, and the US, doctors reported that their workloads were greater when working alongside pregnant doctors, and they rated pregnant colleagues as less productive .…”

“…The second theme, derived from 17 quantitative studies (32 to 10 866 participants) 8,13,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][32][33][34] and one qualitative study (eight participants), 31 was the impact of being a mother on working as a doctor (Supporting Information, table 3).…”

“…27 Time required for parenting also affected working hours. 19,21,23,25,29 Two US studies reported that female surgeons undertook a greater share of childcare planning and domestic activities than male surgeons. 21,25 A multinational study similarly found that women bore greater responsibility for parenting and domestic roles than men in the same surgical specialty.…”

“…29 The second subtheme concerned perceptions of pregnancy and motherhood, discussed in four studies from the viewpoint of the colleagues of female doctors and program directors. 23,24,26,30 In three studies, conducted in the Lebanon, 23 South Africa, 24 and the US, 26 doctors reported that their workloads were greater when working alongside pregnant doctors, and they rated pregnant colleagues as less productive. 23 The US study also found that ten of 22 program directors (45%) reported that their hiring decisions were influenced by disclosures by potential employees regarding pregnancy or pregnancy plans; 23 it was unclear whether this reflected policies on pregnancy in training positions, or personal beliefs about pregnant doctors.…”