Qualitative study identifies challenges and supportive factors for abortion providers, indicating interprofessional collaboration can improve health care delivery.
Key Points
This study explores challenges faced by abortion and gender-affirming care providers while identifying supportive factors.
Qualitative study involving semistructured focus groups and individual interviews with 15 physicians in the United States.
Participants included providers of abortion care, gender-affirming care, or both.
Data were collected from December 2024 to February 2025 using convenience and snowball sampling methods.
Data analysis involved deductive and inductive coding alongside thematic analysis.
Major challenges identified included isolation and stigmatization faced by providers.
Supportive factors highlighted included professional networks and interprofessional collaboration.
Relationships with providers of nonclinical services were valuable in supporting care delivery.