Multicenter study on midwifery students' attitudes towards abortion and it's place in their future practice – Comparison of respondents at early and late stages of the university education

Evidence based midwifery education and practice are fundamental to assure high quality care of childbearing women, also with complications. In Poland, midwifery education includes aspects of participation in the abortion. A cross-sectional study was designed to describe the attitudes towards abortion at the beginning and at the end of students’ university education. The study was aimed to verify change of attitudes throughout the course of the university education. Most of the students approved abortion if the pregnancy constitutes a threat to woman's health or life, results from a rape, or whenever the fetus presents with a lethal defect. More than a half did not approve participation in the abortion if the fetus presents with a non-lethal defect. Generally, the acceptance rates were significantly higher among the final year students, but more than a half of them stated, that the abortion-related topics were inadequately addressed in their study curriculum. That bring to the conclusion that higher rates of abortion acceptance among the final year students, were not necessarily a manifestation of informed approval for this procedure, but rather a form of a “systemic” adjustment. Midwifery program need to be revised to support students in developing informed and evidence-based attitudes toward abortion. •Although available under some circumstances, abortion is controversial in highly religious Poland.•High quality midwifery care includes access to abortion.•Midwifery education in Poland include aspects of participation in the abortion.•Most midwifery students do not accept abortion as a part of future practice.•Midwifery students claim not enough training to be involved in the abortion.