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Gender disparities in Ecuador: a survey study of the under-representation of women in surgery

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe the state of gender representation in surgery across Ecuador. A survey of female surgeons in Ecuador was conducted, collecting information regarding demographics, academics, family and relationships, sexual harassment, discrimination and gender preference of one’s own surgeon. All statistical analysis was conducted with IBM-SPSS version 25. The platform, Worlde, was used for discourse analysis. Of the 144 female surgeons who received the survey, 105 responded. Almost half of respondents had a higher degree in addition to their surgical training. Leadership positions in the workplace were reported to be held by males in 66.7% of cases. Relationship problems caused by the surgical profession were reported by 72.4% of respondents. Feelings of guilt for not dedicating enough time to family were reported by 72.4%, and a feeling of not being supported by their partner was reported by 31.4% of respondents. Sexual harassment was described by 55.2%, and discrimination by 48.6% of the female surgeons in our sample. The majority (89.5%) would choose surgery again if given the opportunity. Significant gender disparities remain within the surgical community in Ecuador.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank to each of the surgeons who took time to complete the survey. We would also like to thank our friends who helped us to contact the surgeons surveyed, including Dr. Nube Flores Lazo, Dr. Ruth Castro Peñafiel, Dr. Ginelda Montalvan and Dr. Cumandá Lituma. We would also like to thank Priscila Sarmiento who helped us design the map of Ecuador.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador

    Doris Sarmiento Altamirano

  2. Department of Surgery, Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca, Ecuador

    Doris Sarmiento Altamirano

  3. Department of Surgery, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center, Washington DC, USA

    Amber Himmler

  4. University of Pittsburgh Global Surgery Fellow, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Amber Himmler

  5. Department of Surgery, Hospital General de Macas, Macas, Ecuador

    Catherine Cabrera Ordoñez

  6. Department of Surgery, Hospital Teofilo Dávila, Machala, Ecuador

    Sonia Olmedo Abril

  7. University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Antonio Biondi

  8. Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Varese, Varese, Italy

    Salomone Di Saverio

  9. University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

    Salomone Di Saverio

Authors
  1. Doris Sarmiento Altamirano
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  2. Amber Himmler
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  3. Catherine Cabrera Ordoñez
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  4. Sonia Olmedo Abril
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  5. Antonio Biondi
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  6. Salomone Di Saverio
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Correspondence to Doris Sarmiento Altamirano.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Sarmiento Altamirano, D., Himmler, A., Cabrera Ordoñez, C. et al. Gender disparities in Ecuador: a survey study of the under-representation of women in surgery. Updates Surg 73, 2009–2015 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-020-00964-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-020-00964-7

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