Pregnancy Incidence And Perception Of Athletic Care In Female College Athletes

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence of pregnancy amongst female student-athletes during their tenure on a collegiate athletic team. To determine if those same athletes feel that the athletic and healthcare professionals (ie. strength & conditioning coaches (SCC), athletic trainers (AT), sport coaches (SC)) in their continuum of care are competent and compassionate in their role. To assess the athlete’s awareness of their rights under Title IX with regards to pregnancy. METHODS: An anonymous survey was distributed via mass email to sport coaches, across all collegiate athletic levels, with a request to forward to their female athletes. Inclusion criteria: ≥ 18 yrs old, be female sex at birth, a member of collegiate athletic team currently or within the past 2 yrs. A total of 1,868 participants were eligible and completed the survey. Questions assessed 4 major areas: inclusion/exclusion, seeking healthcare from athletic continuum of care, perceptions of healthcare from athletic continuum of care, rights of the pregnant athlete and Title IX. RESULTS: 1.76% (n = 33) reported incidence of pregnancy during their tenure as a collegiate athlete. Sought care/guidance from: 18.2% (n = 6) SCC, 21.2% (n = 7) AT, 30.3% (n = 10) SC. Perception of knowledge for pregnancy/post-partum care: 22.5% (n = 420) positive for their SCC, 42.5% (n = 793) positive for their AT, 39.6% (n = 739) positive for their SC. 14.1% (n = 263) of all athletes surveyed were aware of their rights granted to pregnant athletes under Title IX. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that with a 1.76% rate of pregnancy within our sample (n = 1868), with a reported 216,378 female college athlete population it is estimated that thousands of female athletes become pregnant over the course of their collegiate career. With the potential for so many female athletes to experience a pregnancy during their collegiate career, it is important to understand who they are seeking prenatal/postpartum care and advice within athletics. The results suggest a reluctance to approach SCCs and SCs over ATs, and yet none were highly rated as all were < 50%. Given the reported awareness around their rights and Title IX, and collectively, the results of the study suggest a need for change in the athletic continuum of care, or at least the perspective of the female college athlete towards her athletic continuum of care.