Date of Conferral

7-15-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Gary Kelsey

Abstract

Since the Supreme Court of the United States made the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, providing access to reproductive health care in the state of North Carolina has been a challenge for medical professionals. Findings from existing literature indicate that a lack of access to reproductive health care can have a negative impact on society from socioeconomics, food and home inequality, and other health care complications. The purpose of this study was to focus on the impacts that health care providers faced when providing care for those who live in the state of North Carolina since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. The polarities of democracy provided the framework for the study. A generic qualitative approach was utilized to collect the data by conducting in-depth interviews with four participants who had at least four years of experience in reproductive health care in North Carolina. Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify themes. Some of the common themes that were identified were lengthy administrative processes, monetary concerns, and the most common issue was the two in person interview requirement prior to being cleared to obtain an abortion along with the 12-week abortion ban. The implications for positive social change would be that medical professionals would be able to practice and care for their patients on an individual basis based on the needs of the patient and not public policy that governs one’s bodily autonomy.

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