“Doesn’t That Feel Weird?”: How Physicians Reconcile Pregnancy and Parenthood With Abortion Provision [3G]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Support for abortion rights is portrayed as antithetical to family values. With shifting provider demographics, we explored the emotional and ideological effects of pregnancy and parenthood on abortion providers. METHODS: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey of U.S. abortion providers. We calculated descriptive statistics using Stata SE and utilized an inductive, iterative approach to code free-text responses and identify qualitative themes, organized using Atlas.ti. IRB approval was obtained. RESULTS: Of 321 respondents, 227 (70.7%) provided write-in responses, 176 (77.5%) of whom were parents. Qualitative analysis yielded a nested model for understanding the interplay of parenthood and abortion provision: 1) On a societal level, the false dichotomy between “pro-choice” and “pro-child” provokes tension, with providers often erroneously anticipating that parenting will increase the emotional challenges of their work. 2) At the patient level, shared reproductive experiences intensify empathy, often stimulating a stronger therapeutic bond (“A patient asked if I was a mom and when I said I was she said 'well then you understand'”). 3) On the level of pregnancy itself, the juxtaposition of contrasting fetal outcomes forces providers to confront how maternal motivation defines a pregnancy's meaning. 4) At the individual provider level, reconciling identities as both loving parents and reproductive advocates leads to increased passion and commitment to both roles. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate a multi-level framework to understand the effects of personal reproductive experiences on abortion providers. Acknowledging both the tension and gratification of these dual roles may humanize abortion providers and promote honesty and camaraderie in the family planning community.