Israeli Druze women’s sex preferences when choosing obstetricians and gynecologists

Abstract

BackgroundConsideration and better understanding of patients’ needs on the part of the healthcare system might help increase the number of people seeking necessary medical care. Many studies have been conducted on patients’ preferences in choosing their health care provider, but the majority of them were conducted in modern western societies, establishing a need to explore other populations. The present study was performed in the Israeli Druze community which is composed of a uniquely traditional and religious population.We assessed the sex preference of Israeli Druze women regarding obstetricians/gynecologists, and identify other features that affect their choice.MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional study that included 196 Israeli Druze women who anonymously completed a 36-item questionnaire between January-July, 2011.ResultsMost (63.8%) of the responders preferred female obstetricians/gynecologists, while 74.5% had no sex preference for their family physicians. 68.6% of the religious women preferred female obstetricians/gynecologists as compared to 51.76% of those women who self-identified as secular. Most of the women (65%) preferred female obstetricians/gynecologists for intimate procedures, such as pelvic examination and pregnancy follow-up. The main reasons given were: feeling more comfortable with a female practitioner (69.7%), the belief that females are more gentle (56.6%), and being more embarrassed with male obstetricians/gynecologists (45.4%). Three factors were associated with the responders’ preferences for female obstetricians/gynecologists: their age and religious status, and the sex of their regular obstetricians/gynecologists. Women who preferred a female obstetrician/gynecologist assigned a lesser weight to the physician’s knowledge when choosing them. Older and religious women as well as those who attributed less weight to the physician’s professional knowledge were more likely to prefer a female obstetrician/gynecologist.ConclusionsThe majority of responders to our survey (Israeli Druze women), like those in other communities where religiousness and modesty are deeply rooted, prefer female obstetricians/gynecologists, with the overwhelming reasons given being feeling more comfortable and less embarrassed with females, and the notion that female obstetricians/gynecologists are more gentle during intimate procedures.

Investigate Young Female Reaction Concerning Their Gynecological Examination

“…This stressed the importance of female gynecologist or obstetrician at any health setting to enhance female to regularly visited health services. This consistent with Amir Alshiek et al, [24] who had reported that Nowhere is the gender of the health professional as crucial to the choice and adherence of young female as to the intimate nature of obstetrics / gynecology.…”

“…Furthermore Arab female's preference for a female obstetrician/gynecologist in intimate procedures was due to feeling more comfortable with a female obstetrician/ gynecologist, [24,25]. Likewise, Rizk et al found that the reason given for same gender preference of religious was "embarrassment during intimate examinations" [26].…”

“…Moreover the only kindness is permitted in emergency situations, where life is in imminent danger. Consequently, large numbers of women avoid seeking medical attention for gynecologic conditions for fear of being examined by male physicians this inconsistent with Hilden et al, and Amir et al, [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. This was reflected upon their disagreed attitude.…”

Do Urology Male Patients Prefer Same-Gender Urologist?

“…In general, the more traditional and religious beliefs, the greater importance patients attached to the gender preference of their provider, due to modesty. This was previously verified by several gender preference studies that explored gender preference of religious and traditional women for their obstetrician/gynecologist physician (Amer-Alshiek et al, 2015;Amir, Hazan, Grutz, Amit, & Azem, 2012;Amir, Tibi, et al, 2012;Lafta, 2006;McLean et al, 2012;Rizk, El-Zubeir, Al-Dhaheri, Al-Mansouri, & Al-Jenaibi, 2005). The marital status of the responders might also link to a more modest behavior of married patients.…”

The ripple effect: why promoting female leadership in global health matters

“…Female patients and study participants in LMICs often prefer female researchers over males due to cultural or religious reasons. 8,9 These studies help shape health care policies. Women researchers are also more likely to conduct research on women's health.…”