-Short Communication-

Obstetrician Gender and Delivery Mode at a Japanese Perinatal Center

Marie Ito, Kayoko Terada, Zuisei Hayashi and Shunji Suzuki

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital

We examined differences in delivery modes between deliveries managed by female obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) and those managed by male OB/GYNs at our hospital. The rate of vacuum extraction/forceps delivery was significantly lower when deliveries were managed by female OB/GYNs. Logistic regression analysis showed that the lower rate of vacuum extraction/forceps delivery was associated with a lower rate of diagnosis of nonreassuring fetal status during the second stage of labor by female OB/GYNs. The rate of cesarean delivery and obstetric outcomes did not differ with the gender of the managing OB/GYN. The increasing number of female OB/GYNs may help increase the rate of maternal satisfaction associated with the decreased rate of instrumental delivery.

J Nippon Med Sch 2014; 81: 289-291

Keywords
obstetrician gender, delivery mode, instrumental delivery, Japan

Correspondence to
Shunji Suzuki, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital, 5-11-12 Tateishi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 124-0012, Japan
czg83542@mopera.ne.jp

Received, April 28, 2014
Accepted, June 20, 2014