Trust in provider and stigma during second-trimester abortion.

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Reproductive Health
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Abortion stigma remains a significant barrier to reproductive healthcare access.
• Understanding factors associated with individual-level abortion stigma is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Previous research has explored various correlates of abortion stigma, but specific associations with provider trust and mental health in the context of second-trimester abortions require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between trust in healthcare providers, sociodemographic factors, and individual-level abortion stigma.
• To examine the relationship between mental health indicators (anxiety and depression) and abortion stigma.
• To identify potential targets for interventions aimed at reducing abortion stigma.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized trial involving 70 participants undergoing second-trimester abortions.
• Utilized the Individual Level of Abortion Stigma (ILAS) scale, Trust in Physician scale, and measures of anxiety and depression.
• Employed multiple linear regression, informed by univariate associations, to analyze the relationship between stigma (ILAS score) and other variables.

Main Results:

• The average abortion stigma score was low (1.21 on a 0-4 scale).
• Higher trust in healthcare providers was significantly associated with lower abortion stigma (p=0.013).
• Screening positive for anxiety or depression correlated with higher stigma scores (p=0.015), while cohabitation was linked to lower stigma (p=0.025). Sociodemographic factors were not significantly associated with stigma.

Conclusions:

• Trust in abortion providers, presence of anxiety or depression, and cohabitation status are associated with abortion stigma in individuals seeking second-trimester abortions.
• Interventions focused on enhancing provider trust may be effective in mitigating abortion stigma.
• Further research with larger, diverse populations is recommended, alongside qualitative studies to explore patient-perceived trust-building elements in abortion care encounters.