Seeking support for abortion online: a qualitative study of women's experiences.

IF 3.4 3区 医学 Q1 FAMILY STUDIES BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health Pub Date : 2024-07-12 DOI:10.1136/bmjsrh-2023-202083
Rachel Victoria Wilson-Lowe, Carrie Purcell, Ruth Lewis, Lisa McDaid
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Abstract

Introduction: Social support can mitigate the impact of stress and stigma before or after an abortion. However, stigma anticipation can limit access to in-person support. Informal online spaces can offer opportunities to address unmet support needs including supplementing in-person support lacking within stigmatised contexts. While earlier studies have explored content of posts comprising personal accounts of abortion, little is known about the nuances of how and to what end online spaces are navigated.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely (online or by telephone) with 23 women living in Scotland (aged 20-54 years) recruited through social media and online advertisements. Reflexive thematic analysis was supported by NVivo12 software.

Results: Key themes: obtaining support that was unavailable from in-person networks; preparation for abortion; reducing feelings of isolation. The majority of participants independently searched online for accounts of abortion, with only three receiving any signposting to specific resources. Without guidance, finding relevant, supportive content was not straightforward. The search process was additionally complicated by the prevalence of abortion stigma online, which generated an additional burden at a potentially challenging time. Those who received direction towards particular resources reported primarily positive online experiences.

Conclusions: While online content could address perceived in-person support gaps, the process of finding supportive content without guidance can be complex. Online searching may also expose women to stigmatising material and interactions. Signposting by abortion services towards well-moderated and trustworthy online resources could be constructive in limiting exposure to stigma and misinformation, while allowing those seeking it to access better support.

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在网上寻求堕胎支持:对妇女经历的定性研究。
简介社会支持可以减轻堕胎前后的压力和耻辱感。然而,成见预期会限制获得亲身支持的机会。非正式的网络空间可提供机会,满足未得到满足的支持需求,包括补充污名化背景下缺乏的面对面支持。虽然早期的研究已经探讨了包含个人堕胎经历的帖子内容,但对于网上空间的浏览方式和目的的细微差别却知之甚少:对通过社交媒体和在线广告招募的 23 名居住在苏格兰的女性(年龄在 20-54 岁之间)进行了远程(在线或电话)半结构化访谈。在 NVivo12 软件的支持下进行了反思性专题分析:关键主题:获得个人网络无法提供的支持;堕胎准备;减少孤独感。大多数参与者独立在网上搜索有关人工流产的信息,只有三人获得了特定资源的指引。在没有指导的情况下,找到相关的支持性内容并非易事。此外,网上流产污名化的盛行也使搜索过程变得更加复杂,这在可能具有挑战性的时刻造成了额外的负担。获得特定资源指导的人主要报告了积极的在线体验:尽管在线内容可以弥补人们所认为的面对面支持的不足,但在没有指导的情况下寻找支持性内容的过程可能会很复杂。在线搜索还可能使妇女接触到污名化的材料和互动。人工流产服务机构向那些经过良好管理、值得信赖的在线资源提供指导,可以有效地减少遭受污名化和错误信息的机会,同时让那些寻求支持的人获得更好的支持。
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来源期刊
BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health
BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health Medicine-Reproductive Medicine
CiteScore
5.10
自引率
6.10%
发文量
38
期刊介绍: BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health is a multiprofessional journal that promotes sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing, and best contraceptive practice, worldwide. It publishes research, debate and comment to inform policy and practice, and recognises the importance of professional-patient partnership.
期刊最新文献
Shifting discourses, changing interests? How the language of sexual and reproductive health has evolved in the past 50 years. "That's not how abortions happen": a qualitative study exploring how young adults navigate abortion misinformation in the post-Roe era. Attitudes towards the regulation and provision of abortion among healthcare professionals in Britain: cross-sectional survey data from the SACHA Study. Reported side effects from hormonal contraceptives among those seeking abortion care versus contraceptive services. The post-Roe potential of mifepristone and misoprostol in the United States.
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