%A Anna Alpern Vitriol
%T Examination of the Sanctuary: Uses of a Meditative Space in a Women's Health Clinic
%X Abortion, much like pregnancy, can play a significant role in the course of a woman's life. Even so, abortion is complicated by a number of barriers - legal, financial, emotional, spiritual, religious, and physical -- with which women and men struggle beyond the mere complexity of undergoing a surgical procedure. Although abortion can be pivotal in a woman's life, every individual is remarkably different, and for that reason so is every abortion experience. For over 30 years, Allegheny Reproductive Health Center (ARHC) has embraced a holistic approach that seeks to understand and address the needs of women and men seeking termination services. In 2008, ARHC erected a space, the Sanctuary, designed specifically to encourage personal reflection and quiet meditation among patients and abortion providers coping with the complex issues surrounding abortion. Thus, in order to understand the impact of the Sanctuary, this exploratory study investigates the various uses of the meditative space. Qualitative research was conducted through the use of semi-structured interviews with clinic workers and by asking visitors to the meditative space to respond to a short questionnaire, which upon completion was placed in a secure box installed within the Sanctuary. From the results, four overarching themes were identified: 1. To work within the abortion field is both complex and important; 2. The next step in abortion care is a holistic approach that addresses a patient's specific needs; 3. The development of the Sanctuary is a step toward advancing abortion care for women and men; and 4. To establish an understanding of how the space is used by patients and clinic workers. These results imply that applying a holistic approach in abortion care, through the use of a space such as the Sanctuary, is respectful of the varability in women's and men's experiences related to pregnancy termination. Moreover, the findings indicate that participants support the placement and use of the Sanctuary, for themseleves as well as patients. In terms of public health relevance, professionals within the field can utilize this research to advance the understanding of how to assist women and men in managing the complexities of abortion.
%D 2010
%K abortion; women's health
%I University of Pittsburgh
%L pittir6707