Abstract
BackgroundThe number of families conceived through sperm donation to single women is increasing. However, there is limited knowledge about health care professionals’ attitudes towards solo-mothers by choice, and there is some indication that professionals’ personal opinions influence their care of individuals who use alternate ways to build a family. The primary aim of the study was to investigate attitudes towards, and experiences of, families following sperm donation to single women among healthcare professionals working in primary child healthcare.MethodsBetween April and November 2016 a total of 712 physicians, registered nurses and psychologists working within primary healthcare in Sweden were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey study. The study-specific questionnaire contained the following four domains: Attitudes towards legalization and financing, Attitudes towards the family and the child’s health, Clinical experience and Knowledge about sperm donation to single women.ResultsThe majority of the participants were positive or neutral towards sperm donation being allowed to single women in Sweden. However, one third believed that children risk worse mental health and social stigma. Half of healthcare professionals had own clinical experience of caring for solo-mothers by choice and their children, and of these one third perceived that these families had more need of support than other parents. One out of four indicated that they did not have sufficient knowledge to be able to provide adequate care to these families.ConclusionsThe present results indicate that while there was a relatively large support for sperm donation being allowed to single women in Sweden among health care professionals, many expressed concerns about the child’s health, as well as low confidence in their knowledge about the specific needs in this patient group. There is a need for educational interventions targeted to healthcare professionals in primary child healthcare in order to provide adequate care to solo-mothers by choice and their children.
Highlights
According to Swedish legislation, treatment with gametes from identifiable donors has been permitted for heterosexual couples using donor sperm (1985) or donor oocytes (2003) and for lesbian couples using donor sperm (2005)
The aim of the present study was to investigate attitudes held by Swedish physicians, psychologists, and nurses working in primary child healthcare services towards sperm donation to single women and the implications of this practice
One out of five participants wanted a conscience clause for healthcare professionals to be introduced in Sweden (18.3%), with a significant difference noted between the various professional groups (p = 0.009)
Summary
According to Swedish legislation, treatment with gametes from identifiable donors has been permitted for heterosexual couples using donor sperm (1985) or donor oocytes (2003) and for lesbian couples using donor sperm (2005). A Norwegian study showed that solo-mothers by choice were exposed to healthcare professionals’ personal opinions about the mode of conception where they questioned their decision and their competence to care for a child by themselves. The decision to perform or not the procedure was found to be influenced by the professionals’ moral values regarding the patient’s right to gestate, the professional’s duty to help the patients, and the child’s right to a father. These studies were conducted some years ago and attitudes towards sperm donation to single women may have shifted as a result of societal changes. The primary aim of the study was to investigate attitudes towards, and experiences of, families following sperm donation to single women among healthcare professionals working in primary child healthcare
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