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"I just was really scared, because it's already such an uncertain time": Exploring women's abortion experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.
Hukku, Srishti; Ménard, Andréanne; Kemzang, Julia; Hastings, Erin; Foster, Angel M.
  • Hukku S; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada.
  • Ménard A; Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada.
  • Kemzang J; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada.
  • Hastings E; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada.
  • Foster AM; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada; Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, ON Canada. Electronic address: angel.foster@uottawa.ca.
Contraception ; 110: 48-55, 2022 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1763674
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

Travel restrictions, physical distancing and quarantine requirements, lockdowns, and stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19 have impacted abortion services across Canada. We aimed to explore the decision-making and care experiences of those who obtained abortion services during the COVID-19 pandemic and understand recent abortion patients' perspectives on demedicalized models of medication abortion service delivery. STUDY

DESIGN:

We conducted 23 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with women across Canada who obtained abortion care after March 15, 2020. We audio-recorded and transcribed the telephone/Skype/Zoom interviews and managed our data with ATLAS.ti. We analyzed the English-language interviews for content and themes using inductive and deductive techniques.

RESULTS:

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated economic and social support uncertainties, factored into many of our participants' decisions to obtain an abortion. Participants expressed relief and gratitude for being able to secure abortion care during the pandemic. Although women in our study reflected positively on their abortion care experiences, many felt that service delivery changes initiated because of the public health emergency exacerbated pre-COVID-19 barriers to care and contributed to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Our participants expressed considerable enthusiasm for demedicalized models of medication abortion care, including telemedicine services and behind-the-counter availability of mifepristone/misoprostol.

CONCLUSIONS:

For our participants, abortion care constituted an essential health service. Our findings demonstrate the importance of continuing to provide access to safe, effective, and timely abortion care during public health emergencies. Exploring additional models of demedicalized medication abortion service delivery to address persistent access barriers in Canada is warranted. IMPLICATIONS Policymakers and clinicians should consider patient experiences as well as clinical evidence when considering regulatory changes to facilitate access to abortion care during public health emergencies. Identifying a multitude of ways to offer a full range of abortion services, including demedicalized models of medication abortion care, has the potential to meet significant needs in the COVID-19 era and beyond. The COVID pandemic highlights the need for demedicalized models, not only for the sake of those seeking abortion care but also to ease the burden on medical professionals during public health emergencies.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Abortion, Spontaneous / Abortion, Induced / COVID-19 Type of study: Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Female / Humans / Pregnancy Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Contraception Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.contraception.2022.01.014

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Abortion, Spontaneous / Abortion, Induced / COVID-19 Type of study: Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Female / Humans / Pregnancy Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Contraception Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.contraception.2022.01.014