“I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia
BackgroundThe work of full spectrum doulas (i.e., non-medically trained care workers offering support before, during, and after pregnancy including abortion)—is increasingly important as abortion access decreases across the U.S. Few studies have examined the work of community-based doulas in restric...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.966208/full |
| _version_ | 1811162655653625856 |
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| author | Alyssa Lindsey Alyssa Lindsey Subasri Narasimhan Subasri Narasimhan Ayeesha Sayyad Ayeesha Sayyad Daria Turner Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley |
| author_facet | Alyssa Lindsey Alyssa Lindsey Subasri Narasimhan Subasri Narasimhan Ayeesha Sayyad Ayeesha Sayyad Daria Turner Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley |
| author_sort | Alyssa Lindsey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe work of full spectrum doulas (i.e., non-medically trained care workers offering support before, during, and after pregnancy including abortion)—is increasingly important as abortion access decreases across the U.S. Few studies have examined the work of community-based doulas in restrictive abortion settings or how they might further incorporate full spectrum care. As part of the community-engaged mixed methods Georgia Doula Study, this analysis examines the scope of work of community-based doulas regarding full spectrum and abortion services, doula opinions on full spectrum and abortion work, and potential barriers and facilitators for full spectrum doula care in metro-Atlanta, Georgia.MethodsFrom October 2020 to February 2022, the team recruited 20 community-based doulas with 8 who provide full spectrum services including abortion. Surveys covered demographics, doula scope of work, family planning attitudes, and abortion stigma. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics. In-depth interviews further explored those topics. They were de-identified and thematically analyzed using a semi-deductive approach.ResultsThe findings are organized around five themes: (1) doulas of all kinds center reproductive autonomy; (2) abortion doulas play important roles in reproductive autonomy; (3) doulas have mixed feelings about contraceptive counseling; (4) abortion doulas provide diverse services carrying numerous benefits in a stigmatized environment; and (5) abortion doulas experience challenges including stigma but they offer solutions. All but two doulas in this study were interested in learning how to incorporate contraception and abortion services in their current scope of work, and most participants supported the role of full spectrum doulas.ConclusionThis analysis highlights the experiences of abortion and full spectrum doulas, reactions of the larger doula community to those services, and facilitators and barriers to full spectrum doula care in a restrictive abortion setting. There are urgent needs and opportunities for full spectrum doulas to offer life-protecting services to pregnant people across the U.S. and globally. Coordination efforts for U.S. abortion care post-Roe v. Wade must include community-based doulas, who are largely open to aiding abortion clients through education, connection to care, and emotional support. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:32:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-424ae285096f40e5b7d1d9d5f42257fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-5059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:32:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-424ae285096f40e5b7d1d9d5f42257fb2023-03-01T04:56:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592023-03-01410.3389/fgwh.2023.966208966208“I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in GeorgiaAlyssa Lindsey0Alyssa Lindsey1Subasri Narasimhan2Subasri Narasimhan3Ayeesha Sayyad4Ayeesha Sayyad5Daria Turner6Elizabeth A. Mosley7Elizabeth A. Mosley8Elizabeth A. Mosley9Elizabeth A. Mosley10Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesThe Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesRollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesThe Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesThe Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDepartment of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesRollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesRollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesThe Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDepartment of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDivision of General Internal Medicine, Center for Innovative Research on Gender Health Equity (CONVERGE), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesBackgroundThe work of full spectrum doulas (i.e., non-medically trained care workers offering support before, during, and after pregnancy including abortion)—is increasingly important as abortion access decreases across the U.S. Few studies have examined the work of community-based doulas in restrictive abortion settings or how they might further incorporate full spectrum care. As part of the community-engaged mixed methods Georgia Doula Study, this analysis examines the scope of work of community-based doulas regarding full spectrum and abortion services, doula opinions on full spectrum and abortion work, and potential barriers and facilitators for full spectrum doula care in metro-Atlanta, Georgia.MethodsFrom October 2020 to February 2022, the team recruited 20 community-based doulas with 8 who provide full spectrum services including abortion. Surveys covered demographics, doula scope of work, family planning attitudes, and abortion stigma. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics. In-depth interviews further explored those topics. They were de-identified and thematically analyzed using a semi-deductive approach.ResultsThe findings are organized around five themes: (1) doulas of all kinds center reproductive autonomy; (2) abortion doulas play important roles in reproductive autonomy; (3) doulas have mixed feelings about contraceptive counseling; (4) abortion doulas provide diverse services carrying numerous benefits in a stigmatized environment; and (5) abortion doulas experience challenges including stigma but they offer solutions. All but two doulas in this study were interested in learning how to incorporate contraception and abortion services in their current scope of work, and most participants supported the role of full spectrum doulas.ConclusionThis analysis highlights the experiences of abortion and full spectrum doulas, reactions of the larger doula community to those services, and facilitators and barriers to full spectrum doula care in a restrictive abortion setting. There are urgent needs and opportunities for full spectrum doulas to offer life-protecting services to pregnant people across the U.S. and globally. Coordination efforts for U.S. abortion care post-Roe v. Wade must include community-based doulas, who are largely open to aiding abortion clients through education, connection to care, and emotional support.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.966208/fullabortioncontraceptiondoulabirth workerstigmafamily planning |
| spellingShingle | Alyssa Lindsey Alyssa Lindsey Subasri Narasimhan Subasri Narasimhan Ayeesha Sayyad Ayeesha Sayyad Daria Turner Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley Elizabeth A. Mosley “I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia Frontiers in Global Women's Health abortion contraception doula birth worker stigma family planning |
| title | “I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia |
| title_full | “I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia |
| title_fullStr | “I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia |
| title_full_unstemmed | “I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia |
| title_short | “I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia |
| title_sort | i can be pro abortion and pro birth opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in georgia |
| topic | abortion contraception doula birth worker stigma family planning |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.966208/full |
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