Perspectives on Privacy in the Post-Roe Era: A Mixed-Methods of Machine Learning and Qualitative Analyses of Tweets

TL;DR

This study analyzes Twitter reactions to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, revealing widespread concerns about patient privacy and data sharing in reproductive health, using a mixed-methods approach.

Contribution

It combines machine learning and qualitative analyses to explore public perceptions of privacy issues related to reproductive rights post-Roe v. Wade.

Findings

Concerns about confidentiality of patient-physician communication

Fears of medical records being shared without consent

Public awareness of privacy risks in reproductive health data

Abstract

Abortion is a controversial topic that has long been debated in the US. With the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, access to safe and legal reproductive care is once again in the national spotlight. A key issue central to this debate is patient privacy, as in the post-HITECH Act era it has become easier for medical records to be electronically accessed and shared. This study analyzed a large Twitter dataset from May to December 2022 to examine the public's reactions to Roe v. Wade's overruling and its implications for privacy. Using a mixed-methods approach consisting of computational and qualitative content analysis, we found a wide range of concerns voiced from the confidentiality of patient-physician information exchange to medical records being shared without patient consent. These findings may inform policy making and healthcare industry practices concerning medical privacy related to reproductive rights and women's health.