Providers’ Perspectives of Georgia’s 22-Week Abortion Ban and its Sociocultural and Political Implications Open Access
Youm, Awa (Spring 2021)
Abstract
Background: In 2015, the Georgia legislature passed House Bill 954 (HB954) which implements a gestational age limit on abortion at 22 weeks from last menstrual period. This study sought to analyze the social, cultural and political contexts and consequences of HB954 from the perspective of abortion clinic personnel in Georgia.
Methods: 20 semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with a diverse set of service delivery stakeholders from 4 abortion clinics in Georgia. Using an iterative process, and principals of grounded theory, transcripts were annotated and coded in MAXQDA. The analysis used both inductive and deductive approaches.
Results: Participants reported a disconnect between the medical and legal communities, particularly due to the presence of medically inaccurate language in HB954, as well as lawmakers’ insertion of their own personal beliefs and ideas of morality. Participants also described the stigma they experienced within a hostile service delivery environment. Participants expressed that HB954 disregards patients’ bodily autonomy and intrudes into the provider–patient relationship. The state’s intrusion into the provider-patient relationship created a heavy emotional and mental burden on participants because they reported having to deny some patients care and/or refer patients to other states.
Conclusion: Providers viewed HB954 as posing a threat to patients’ bodily autonomy, perpetuating and legally codifying medical misinformation, and contributing to mental and emotional burnout among personnel. Future research is needed to further evaluate abortion providers role in legislation and the impact recent restrictive abortion regulation creates on patients as a study population.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Introduction & Rationale
Research Question
Chapter 2: Background and Literature Review
Reproductive Health, Rights & Justice
Global Health Context of Abortion
History of Abortion Legislation in the United States
State-level Abortion Restrictions in the United States
Abortion in the Southeastern United States and Georgia
Evidence-based Patient Care
Chapter 3: Methods & Results
Study Population, Sample Size, and Data Collection
Ethics
Data Analysis
House Bill 954 is not a scientific evidence-based policy
HB954 is a Threat to Patients’ Bodily Autonomy
After HB954, Providers Turn Away Patients with Great Consequence
After HB954, Providers Experienced More Emotional and Mental Burden
Chapter 4: Discussion
Summary of Findings
Legislative Interference
United States Political Environment
Abortion Stigma
Strengths & Limitations
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations
Policy & Program Recommendations
Future Studies
Conclusion
Appendices
Appendix 1: In-Depth Interview Guide
Appendix 2: Codebook
Literature Referenced
About this Master's Thesis
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