Access to and Experience of Later Abortion: Accounts from Women in Scotland

被引:42
作者
Purcell, Carrie [1 ]
Cameron, Sharon [2 ]
Caird, Lucy [3 ]
Flett, Gillian [4 ]
Laird, George [5 ]
Melville, Catriona [6 ]
McDaid, Lisa M. [7 ]
机构
[1] Univ Edinburgh, Ctr Populat Hlth Sci, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
[2] NHS Natl Hlth Serv Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
[3] NHS Highland, Inverness, Scotland
[4] NHS Grampian, Aberdeen, Scotland
[5] NHS West Scotland Sexual Hlth Managed Clin Networ, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
[6] NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Kilmarnock, Scotland
[7] Univ Glasgow, MRC, CSO, Social & Publ Hlth Sci Unit, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Lanark, Scotland
关键词
US WOMEN; REASONS; PROVISION;
D O I
10.1363/46e1214
中图分类号
C921 [人口统计学];
学科分类号
摘要
CONTEXT: Except in the presence of significant medical indications, the legal limit for abortion in Great Britain is 24 weeks' gestation. Nevertheless, abortion for nonmedical reasons is not usually provided in Scotland after 18-20 weeks, meaning women have to travel to England for the procedure. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 women presenting for "later" abortions (i.e., at 16 or more weeks' gestation) in Scotland. Participants were women who sought an abortion at a participating National Health Service clinic between January and July 2013. Interviews addressed reasons for and consequences of later presentation, as well as women's experiences of abortion. Thematic analysis attended to emerging issues and employed the conceptual tool of candidacy. RESULTS: Delayed recognition of pregnancy, changed life circumstances and conflicting candidacies for motherhood and having an abortion were common reasons for women's presentation for later abortion. Women perceived that the resources required to travel to England for a later abortion were potential barriers to access, and felt that such travel was distressing and stigmatizing. Participants who continued their pregnancy did so after learning they were at a later gestational age than expected or after receiving assurances of support from partners, friends or family. CONCLUSIONS: Reasons for seeking later abortion are complex and varied among women in Scotland, and suggest that reducing barriers to access and improving local provision of such abortions are a necessity. The candidacy framework allows for a fuller understanding of the difficulties involved in obtaining abortions.
引用
收藏
页码:101 / 108
页数:8
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