Abortion providers, professional identity, and restrictive laws: A qualitative study.
Most studies on the impact of restrictive abortion laws have focused on patient-level outcomes. To better understand how such laws affect providers, we conducted a qualitative study of 27 abortion providers working under a restrictive law in North Carolina. Providers derived professional identity from their motivations, values, and experiences of pride related to abortion provision. The law affected their professional identities by perpetuating negative characterizations of their profession, requiring changes to patient care and communication, and creating conflicts between professional values and legal obligations. We conclude that a holistic understanding of the impact of abortion laws should include providers' perspectives.
a School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
Laura E
LE
Britton
b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.
Rebecca J
RJ
Mercier
c Department of Social Medicine and Center for Bioethics , School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
Mara
M
Buchbinder
d Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
Amy G
AG
Bryant
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009657:North Carolina; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014933:Women's Rights