Investigating Students' Attitudes and Knowledge About Surrogacy Treatment



Shakour M¹ ; Salehi K² ; Kohan S³ ; Shakour A²
Source: Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility Published:2012

Abstract

Introduction: Surrogacy is a controversial method in Infertility treatment, utilization of which is needed to identify the level of public awareness and attitudes of whom are linked to infertility in other sciences. Therefore, since sciences such as midwifery, medicine, psychology and law may be more involved in this issue than other disciplines; this study was held by the aim of investigating the attitudes and knowledge of students in these sciences. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional survey was performed on 200 students of medicine, Midwifery, Psychology and Law in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2010. Sampling was quota. The data collection was done by using a self-administered questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics, knowledge (7 question) and attitudes (1 question for general attitude, 21 question in five dimensions of psychological, religious - legal, cultural, financial and acceptance of procedure) of students in different dimensions. In knowledge section, the total score less than 3 was considered as low knowledge and more than 5 as good knowledge. In attitude section, if the total score in each dimension was more than mean value, was considered positive attitude and lower than mean value, was considered as negative attitude. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics, SPSS software version 16, Chi-square test, independent T-test, univariate ANOVA and analysis of variance. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Students of midwifery (89.5%) and medicine (88.8%) had the most positive attitude about Surrogacy. Attitudes of other students about Surrogacy based on chi-square test were not different (p=0.08). Significant difference was observed in mean knowledge score of students of law (3.35±1.84), psychology (3.70±1.89), medicine (4.28±31.58), midwifery respectively (4.44±1.56). So there was significant difference in the level of mean awareness among the students of different sciences (p<0/001). Conclusion: Overall students of different sciences had a positive attitude toward surrogacy and had accepted it but their awareness of this treatment was in intermediate level.