Dissertation
Comparative analysis of areas with buffer zones vs areas without buffer zones: assessing the impact of anti-abortion protestors on patient experiences characterized by emotional responses
Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.), Drexel University
May 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/cad9-7e72
Abstract
There has been limited research conducted to understand the impact that anti-abortion protestors have on women seeking abortion - though previous researchers have shown that anti-abortion protestors do have a negative impact on women seeking abortion. This research expands upon existing studies to conduct a comparative analysis to determine if the negative impact of anti-abortion protestors was lessened when proximal optimization was achieved via a buffer zone. For this study, 90 women were interviewed - 45 in Philadelphia where proximal optimization has not been achieved and 45 in Pittsburgh were proximal optimization was achieved. Findings showed that women in Philadelphia (M = 1.3238, SD = .39000) reported to a greater degree negative emotional response compared to women in Pittsburgh (M = 1.0952, SD = .13426), with a p-value of .001. These findings substantiated the initial hypothesis and indicates that when a degree of proximal optimization is achieved via buffer zone legislation, then negative emotions experienced by women seeking abortion services are lessened. There was also a 12-point difference in women feeling upset due to protestor activity between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with almost 48% of women in Philadelphia reporting varying levels of being upset. These results can be used as contextual information and data to influence policy to establish buffer zone legislation where it is absent, as well as providing substantiating evidence that buffer zones should stay in place if and when contested.
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Details
- Title
- Comparative analysis of areas with buffer zones vs areas without buffer zones
- Creators
- Danitra L. Sherman - DU
- Contributors
- Darryl Brown (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)David S. Cohen (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- ix, 82 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Health Management and Policy; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 10921; 991014632172104721