title: Exposure to violence and posttraumatic stress symptomatology among abortion clinic workers.
abstract: The intent of this study was to examine the relationship between exposure to abortion clinic violence, either as a victim or witness, and the reporting of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among clinic employees. Semi-structured interviews with 71 clinic workers from eight abortion clinics in a Southeastern state were used for analyses. Findings showed that as victims, clinic workers experienced moderate forms of violence and witnessed greater variety and numbers of violent acts. Twenty-one percent of the sampled workers reported symptoms similar to the syndrome described in the DSM-IIIR/DSM-IV classification for PTSD. A multivariate analysis showed that even when controlling for significant life circumstances and stressors outside the clinic setting, witnessing violence was a significant predictor of PTSD symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-3350, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence