Abstract
Background
Roughly one-third of all abortions in Canada are subsequent abortions. However, few
published reports showcase women's voices or explore women's experiences on this topic.
Our study aimed to understand better the ways that women who have had multiple abortions
talk about and view those experiences.
Methods
Between 2012 and 2016, we conducted in-depth interviews with 41 Canadian women who
had a total of 87 abortions in the 5 years preceding the interviews. We audio-recorded
and transcribed all English- and French-language interviews and analyzed our data
for content and themes using a multiphased iterative approach and inductive and deductive
techniques.
Results
Women described their abortion experiences as unique life events, even in cases when
the overarching circumstances surrounding the pregnancies were similar. Participants
recalled multiple factors that influenced their decisions to terminate, including
their relationship status; level of support from family and friends; financial situation;
health status; previous reproductive health, pregnancy, and abortion experiences;
and desire to parent. In general, a previous abortion demystified the abortion process
but did not play a significant role in decision making. Women described intensified
feelings of shame and both internalized and externalized stigma surrounding their
decision to have more than one abortion. However, the overwhelming majority were confident
in their decisions.
Conclusions
The often-used phase “repeat abortion” fails to capture women's experiences and the
complex decision making surrounding each pregnancy. Efforts to reframe the narrative
of multiple abortions, including among health care providers, could help reduce the
amplified stigma associated with having more than one lifetime abortion.
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Biography
Kathryn J. LaRoche, PhD(c), MSc, is a PhD Student in Population Health at uOttawa. Her research centers on improving access to high-quality, nonjudgmental abortion care in Canada and abroad.
Biography
Angel M. Foster, DPhil, MD, AM, is the 2011–2016 Endowed Chair in Women's Health Research at uOttawa. She received her DPhil from the University of Oxford and her MD from Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on emergency contraception, abortion, and health professions education.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 24, 2018
Accepted:
April 10,
2018
Received in revised form:
April 8,
2018
Received:
May 18,
2017
Footnotes
This project received funding from the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Development Program, the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS)—Volet Université d'Ottawa, and the Society of Family Planning. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funded Dr. Foster's 2011–2016 Endowed Chair in Women's Health Research. We appreciate the general support for her time that made this study possible.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc.
