Abortion Providers on Politically Engaging Patients

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Social Science
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Abortion providers have historically noted the underrepresentation of patients' voices in the abortion rights movement.
• This absence is seen as a political disadvantage, raising questions about the appropriateness of patient political engagement in care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore abortion providers' perspectives on whether, why, and how they engage patients politically.
• To understand the philosophical divides among providers regarding patient political engagement as part of care.

Main Methods:

• Interviews were conducted with providers from 14 abortion clinics with diverse characteristics.
• Transcripts were analyzed to identify themes concerning the political engagement of abortion patients.

Main Results:

• Many providers limited or avoided political engagement, citing concerns about patient care, time constraints, and perceived patient disinterest.
• Some providers believed political outreach improved patient understanding, could impact future access, and was integral to patient care.

Conclusions:

• Provider approaches to patient political engagement vary significantly, reflecting different philosophies and motivations.
• The act of seeking an abortion may represent a form of patient activism, especially with increasing access limitations.