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Original Article
Online Published: 18 Nov 2025
 


Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia

Amenah Alghamdi, Elaf Mohammed Ali Abu-aba, Majda Tariq Al-ghalib, Lina Sami Hussain Saber, Amirah Mesfer Al-otaibi, Refal Nabet Al-zahrani, Layan Baagil, Reema Idrees, Shaden Benmohi, Raghad Alghamdi.


Abstract
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the fertility trends among female physicians in Saudi Arabia and examines their unique challenges concerning family planning and career development.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic self-administered questionnaire distributed to female physicians aged 24 years and above, currently practicing in Saudi Arabia. The survey explored demographics, fertility trends, and factors influencing childbearing decisions.
Results:
Among 208 participants, 49.5% were married, and 78.6% of those had children. The majority of married participants used contraceptive methods (62.4%). Physicians who completed their training had significantly higher odds of having children than those still in training (OR=22.3; 95% CI 4.8-103; p<0.0001). Concerns regarding career responsibilities as a barrier to start a family were reported by over 70% of participants. Only 20% of participants felt workplace support was sufficient after childbirth during training/practice.
Conclusion:
This study highlighted the multifaceted challenges faced by female physicians in balancing career advancement and family planning. Addressing these barriers through institutional policies and workplace support is essential for promoting gender equity in medicine.

Key words: Female physicians, family planning, career development, medical training, Saudi Arabia


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alghamdi A, Abu-aba EMA, Al-ghalib MT, Saber LSH, Al-otaibi AM, Al-zahrani RN, Baagil L, Idrees R, Benmohi S, Alghamdi R. Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. 2025; 9(10): 2387-2393. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948

Web Style

Alghamdi A, Abu-aba EMA, Al-ghalib MT, Saber LSH, Al-otaibi AM, Al-zahrani RN, Baagil L, Idrees R, Benmohi S, Alghamdi R. Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=285354 [Access: December 09, 2025]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alghamdi A, Abu-aba EMA, Al-ghalib MT, Saber LSH, Al-otaibi AM, Al-zahrani RN, Baagil L, Idrees R, Benmohi S, Alghamdi R. Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. 2025; 9(10): 2387-2393. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alghamdi A, Abu-aba EMA, Al-ghalib MT, Saber LSH, Al-otaibi AM, Al-zahrani RN, Baagil L, Idrees R, Benmohi S, Alghamdi R. Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. (2025), [cited December 09, 2025]; 9(10): 2387-2393. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948


Harvard Style

Alghamdi, A., Abu-aba, . E. M. A., Al-ghalib, . M. T., Saber, . L. S. H., Al-otaibi, . A. M., Al-zahrani, . R. N., Baagil, . L., Idrees, . R., Benmohi, . S. & Alghamdi, . R. (2025) Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC, 9 (10), 2387-2393. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948


Turabian Style

Alghamdi, Amenah, Elaf Mohammed Ali Abu-aba, Majda Tariq Al-ghalib, Lina Sami Hussain Saber, Amirah Mesfer Al-otaibi, Refal Nabet Al-zahrani, Layan Baagil, Reema Idrees, Shaden Benmohi, and Raghad Alghamdi. 2025. Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (10), 2387-2393. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948


Chicago Style

Alghamdi, Amenah, Elaf Mohammed Ali Abu-aba, Majda Tariq Al-ghalib, Lina Sami Hussain Saber, Amirah Mesfer Al-otaibi, Refal Nabet Al-zahrani, Layan Baagil, Reema Idrees, Shaden Benmohi, and Raghad Alghamdi. "Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9 (2025), 2387-2393. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alghamdi, Amenah, Elaf Mohammed Ali Abu-aba, Majda Tariq Al-ghalib, Lina Sami Hussain Saber, Amirah Mesfer Al-otaibi, Refal Nabet Al-zahrani, Layan Baagil, Reema Idrees, Shaden Benmohi, and Raghad Alghamdi. "Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9.10 (2025), 2387-2393. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alghamdi, A., Abu-aba, . E. M. A., Al-ghalib, . M. T., Saber, . L. S. H., Al-otaibi, . A. M., Al-zahrani, . R. N., Baagil, . L., Idrees, . R., Benmohi, . S. & Alghamdi, . R. (2025) Family planning and childbearing decisions among female physicians in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (10), 2387-2393. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1758403948




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