Framing Personal Experiences in U.S. Media Outlets: Critical Analysis of Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Anomalies

Limited studies have examined the lived experience of those facing termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly in the U.S., particularly after the 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. There exists a body of research elsewhere around the world studying how the media frames these experiences, but little is known about the role American media organizations play as health educators for critical reproductive healthcare topics, such as the termination of pregnancy. This critical analysis sought to understand how the U.S. media frames personal accounts of those who have experienced termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to describe the current state of qualitative research in the country. This was followed by a narrative, thematic analysis of 12 online media stories, published between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, and which conveyed the unique personal experiences of 29 individuals living across the U.S. Several themes emerged, including access to services, patient experience, and decision-making, and these were synthesized with the thematic clusters which emerged from Health Communication’s “Defining Moments” analysis from 2020. A set of recommendations for the media and other health communicators is provided to improve how lived experiences are framed in messaging and address how media stories are an integral part of how the public understands and comprehends reproductive healthcare topics, like termination of pregnancy.