The Impact of Rural Environments on Reproductive Autonomy Among Women in Appalachia: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

Reproductive autonomy encompasses one’s ability to make decisions around contraceptive use, pregnancy, and childbirth. An individual’s geographic location affects access to a wide range of information and care related to reproductive choice. Individuals in rural areas face additional barriers to reproductive health and decision-making than those in urban areas. This phenomenological qualitative study examined the experiences with and perceptions of reproductive decision-making among women in rural Appalachian communities in the United States. Four themes emerged from the data: autonomy tied to choice, role of religion and church on autonomy and decision-making, navigating limited access to care, and shame. Women should be supported in making reproductive health decisions, and efforts are needed to increase autonomy within reproductive health care and decisions. Sexual health programming within school and other community settings should address shame that often occurs around reproductive health topics, particularly among religious communities.

Keywords:

• Rural
• reproductive health
• reproductive autonomy
• reproductive decision-making
• qualitative methods

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Notes

1 These states include Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.