Aalap Bommaraju1, Megan L Kavanaugh2, Melody Y Hou3, Danielle Bessett4. 1. Department of Sociology, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA. 2. Guttmacher Institute, NY, USA. 3. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of California-Davis Medical Center, CA, USA. 4. Department of Sociology, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA. Electronic address: danielle.bessett@uc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether race and reported history of abortion are associated with abortion stigma and miscarriage stigma, both independently and comparatively. STUDY DESIGN: Self-administered surveys with 306 new mothers in Boston and Cincinnati, United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abortion stigma perception (ASP); miscarriage stigma perception (MSP); and comparative stigma perception (CSP: abortion stigma perception net of miscarriage stigma perception). RESULTS: Regardless of whether or not they reported having an abortion, white women perceived abortion (ASP) to be more stigmatizing than Black and Latina women. Perceptions of miscarriage stigma (MSP), on the other hand, were dependent on reporting an abortion. Among those who reported an abortion, Black women perceived more stigma from miscarriage than white women, but these responses were flipped for women who did not report abortion. Reporting abortion also influenced our comparative measure (CSP). Among those who did report an abortion, white women perceived more stigma from abortion than miscarriage, while Black and Latina women perceived more stigma from miscarriage than abortion. CONCLUSIONS: By measuring abortion stigma in comparison to miscarriage stigma, we can reach a more nuanced understanding of how perceptions of reproductive stigmas are stratified by race and reported reproductive history. Clinicians should be aware that reproductive stigmas do not similarly affect all groups. Stigma from specific reproductive outcomes is more or less salient dependent upon a woman's social position and lived experience.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether race and reported history of abortion are associated with abortion stigma and miscarriage stigma, both independently and comparatively. STUDY DESIGN: Self-administered surveys with 306 new mothers in Boston and Cincinnati, United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abortion stigma perception (ASP); miscarriage stigma perception (MSP); and comparative stigma perception (CSP: abortion stigma perception net of miscarriage stigma perception). RESULTS: Regardless of whether or not they reported having an abortion, white women perceived abortion (ASP) to be more stigmatizing than Black and Latina women. Perceptions of miscarriage stigma (MSP), on the other hand, were dependent on reporting an abortion. Among those who reported an abortion, Black women perceived more stigma from miscarriage than white women, but these responses were flipped for women who did not report abortion. Reporting abortion also influenced our comparative measure (CSP). Among those who did report an abortion, white women perceived more stigma from abortion than miscarriage, while Black and Latina women perceived more stigma from miscarriage than abortion. CONCLUSIONS: By measuring abortion stigma in comparison to miscarriage stigma, we can reach a more nuanced understanding of how perceptions of reproductive stigmas are stratified by race and reported reproductive history. Clinicians should be aware that reproductive stigmas do not similarly affect all groups. Stigma from specific reproductive outcomes is more or less salient dependent upon a woman's social position and lived experience.
Authors: Aleta Baldwin; Dana M Johnson; Kathleen Broussard; Luisa Alejandra Tello-Pérez; Melissa Madera; Carol Ze-Noah; Elisa Padron; Abigail R A Aiken Journal: Qual Health Res Date: 2022-03-24