Obstetric complications may be more common among female surgeons compared with the childbearing partners of male surgeons, but this difference may not persist after adjustment for a lack of workplace support, according to a recent survey study.
Investigators analyzed the responses of 1,473 US surgeon-parents drawn from a 2024 national survey of 3,125 respondents. Among the participants, 64% were female and 78% were in practice. Obstetric complications—including placental insufficiency, placenta previa, and intrauterine growth restriction—were reported in 31% of the female surgeons compared with 23% of the childbearing partners of male surgeons.
In adjusted analyses, female surgeons had 1.34 times the risk of experiencing obstetric complications compared with partners of male surgeons. However, after adjustment for a lack of workplace support, the difference didn't persist and was no longer statistically significant.
More than 50% of the respondents reported a lack of workplace support, with higher prevalence among female surgeons (64% vs 32%). In multivariable models, a lack of workplace support was associated with obstetric complications, with 1.58 times the risk in the overall cohort.
Subgroup analyses among female surgeons showed that a lack of workplace support was associated with 1.53 times the risk of complications, while working more than 60 hours per week was associated with 1.45 times the risk. Multiple gestation remained strongly associated with complications, with approximately six to seven times the risk across models.
In stratified analyses, a lack of workplace support was associated with complications among practicing surgeons (2.10 times the risk), whereas working more than 60 hours per week was associated with complications among trainees (2.20 times the risk).
Qualitative findings from 697 free-text responses identified three themes: physical demands of surgical work contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes, cultural norms discouraging accommodation during pregnancy, and limited parental leave policies resulting in brief postpartum leave. The respondents described long operating hours, inadequate rest and nutrition, and perceived stigma as barriers to modifying workloads.
The study was limited by a 9.5% response rate, potential selection and recall bias, and its cross-sectional design, which precluded causal inference.
“[T]hese outcomes arise from modifiable work conditions rather than intrinsic differences,” noted lead study author Sarah J. Halix, MD, of the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital of Mass General Brigham, and colleagues.
The researchers reported no conflicts of interest.
Source: JAMA Surgery