Examining Independent Abortion Providers’ Perceptions and Needs for Social Support: A Qualitative Social Ecological Study in the Southern and Midwestern US Público
Virani, Nabeeha (Spring 2022)
Abstract
Abortion stigma is highly common and experienced by individuals seeking, receiving, or providing abortion services. To combat this stigma, individuals have relied on their social support networks of families, friends, and communities. Social support has proven to mitigate stigma yet a limited number of studies have examined social support for abortion personnel, and studies that explore stigma or support focus solely on physicians who perform abortions. The objective of this study was to examine social support perceptions and needs among abortion providers of all levels working in independent clinics. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional qualitative semi-structured interview format. Information was collected through in-depth interviews with abortion providers (N=15) across the Midwestern and Southern United States. This analysis adapted the Social Ecological Model to the context of abortion providers working in independent clinics, evaluating their perceptions of social support at interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy networks. Participants received high social support from their organizational, or clinic, networks and that varied support came from their interpersonal networks of family and friends. However, lack of support largely came from communities and public policy networks of vendors and anti-abortion legislation, respectively. Results demonstrate the importance of understanding social support experiences of abortion providers of all levels and that these experiences may be different than providers working in similar healthcare settings. These findings also indicate the power of independent clinic culture in providing respectful care to patients and how this culture can combat abortion stigma.
Table of Contents
Literature Review 1
Abortion Trends in the United States 1
Barriers to Abortion Provision: Violence and Legislation 2
Violence 2
Legislation 3
Abortion Stigma 5
Social Support 9
Social Capital 11
Conclusion 13
FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS 15
METHODS 17
Population and Study Sample 17
Study Design 18
Data Analysis 19
Ethical Considerations 19
Limitations 19
RESULTS 20
Individual and Interpersonal Networks: Family and Friends 20
Organizational and Community Networks: Where Clinic Space and Public Space Converge 23
Abortion Community Network of National Funds and Clinics 33
State Networks: Public Policy and Attitudes 35
DISCUSSION 38
Social support for providers varies by and within networks 38
Providers are not the only ones affected by abortion stigma 40
Disclosure is not always a choice 40
Clinic culture 41
Strengths and Limitations 43
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS 44
REFERENCES 46
APPENDIX A: CODEBOOK 50
APPENDIX B: STUDY PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS 54
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