“I kind of feel like sometimes I am shoving it under the carpet”: Documenting women’s experiences with post-abortion support in Ontario

Background: Abortion has been available without criminal restriction in Canada since 1988, and approximately 33 000 terminations take place in Ontario each year. Objectives: This study aimed to explore women’s expressed desire for post-abortion support services, document the priorities expressed by women in seeking post-abortion support, and identify actionable strategies to improve post-abortion support services in Ontario. Methods: Between 2012 and 2014 we conducted in-depth, open-ended interviews with 60 Anglophone women from across Ontario who had recently had an abortion. We aimed to rigorously explore the compounding issues of age and geography on women’s abortion experiences. We analyzed our data for content and themes and reported on the findings related to post-abortion support. Results: One third of our participants expressed a desire for post-abortion support, yet few were able to access a timely, affordable, non-directive service. Women were uncertain about how to find services; most contacted a provider recommended by the clinic or searched online. Women were enthusiastic about a talkline format citing anonymity and convenience as the main advantages. Conclusion: Our results suggest that exploring ways to expand post-abortion support services in Ontario is warranted. A talkline format could provide an anonymous, convenient, non-judgmental, and non-directive way to address this unmet need.

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Embodiment, agency, unmet need: Young women’s experiences in the use and non-use of contraception in Khayelitsha, South Africa

Global Public Health ◽

10.1080/17441692.2021.1882528 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Sarena Hayer ◽

Kira DiClemente ◽

Alison Swartz ◽

Zipho Chihota ◽

Christopher J. Colvin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Women's Experiences

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An Assessment of Women’s Experiences and Challenges Faced with Post Abortion Care (PAC) Services in Buea

Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jocamr/2021/v15i430271 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Teng Esther Mbong ◽

Dickson S. Nsagha ◽

Niba Clinton Ambe ◽

Micheal Okunlola ◽

A. Oladokun Sina

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Contraceptive Use ◽

Unwanted Pregnancy ◽

Unsafe Abortion ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Care Services ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

Post Abortion

Background: Unsafe abortion is one of the commonest causes of maternal mortality and post-abortion care services have been acclaimed as the best remedy for this situation. Yet, high maternal mortality still prevails pointing to issues with the quality of services. The paper was designed to investigate women's motives for engaging in unsafe abortion; assess women's experiences on the quality of PAC services and identify the challenges women faced in accessing PAC services in Buea. Methods: This study recruited 10 participants in Buea. Using a structured interview, data was collected on women's motives for engaging in unsafe abortion; assess women's experiences on the quality of PAC services, and identify the challenges women faced in accessing PAC services in Buea. Thematic and grounded theory analytical techniques were used to organize and interpret the data. Results: Majority of women in Buea did not use contraceptives for different reasons ranging from personal, spousal consent, ignorance, and the fear of side effects of contraceptive use. The low contraceptive use accounts highly for unwanted pregnancy cases which results in the decisions to induce. Most of these women involuntarily engage in induced abortion, highly driven by second party influence like the request from spouse/partner, disappointment from the spouse, and fear of parents’ reactions; while some occur as a result of missed abortion. The quality of PAC services received by most of these women were merely emergency treatments without proper PAC activities like family planning counseling, provision of modern contraceptive methods, linkages to other reproductive health care services. Women in Buea encounter some challenges in the use of PAC services, pains associated with the procedure, the cost, the absence of some family planning methods, the absence of counselling before PAC and above all, non constant availability of blood in the bood bank for transfusion. Conclusion: This study concluded that most women in Buea engage in induced abortion on account of the pressure to terminate an unwanted pregnancy; resulting from low contraceptives use; desire to avoid problems from their spouses/partners as well as to pursue career ambition. Moreover, the quality of PAC services offered to women in Buea was emergency treatment; void of important aspects like family planning services, linkage to other reproductive health care services, and facilitating their social reinsertion and preventing future induce abortion.

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