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Access to and Experience of Later Abortion: Accounts from Women in Scotland
Author(s) -
Purcell Carrie,
Cameron Sharon,
Caird Lucy,
Flett Gillian,
Laird George,
Melville Catriona,
McDaid Lisa M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
perspectives on sexual and reproductive health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.818
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1931-2393
pISSN - 1538-6341
DOI - 10.1363/46e1214
Subject(s) - abortion , candidacy , medicine , medical abortion , thematic analysis , context (archaeology) , family medicine , pregnancy , reproductive health , population , family planning , obstetrics , qualitative research , misoprostol , political science , environmental health , sociology , law , geography , social science , genetics , politics , research methodology , biology , archaeology
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 .