Evidence to inform health service configuration for abortion provision
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evidence base to inform health service configuration for abortion provision
IRAS ID
291993
Contact name
Kaye Wellings
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
One in three women in the UK have an abortion at some point in their lives. Significant changes to the nature and context of abortion provision are taking place in the UK which will impact on patients, practitioners and policy makers. Challenges persist in relation to abortion provision, even in countries with few legal constraints, including insufficient human resources and suboptimal training, and for women, experience of stigma, delay in obtaining appointments and negative staff attitudes.
Our research sets out to answer the question, "How can health services be best configured in response to the decriminalisation, deregulation and de-medicalisation of abortion to provide quality, evidence-based care for women in the UK?" To address this question, we will conduct in-depth interviews using semi-structured guides with 30-40 women with recent experience of abortion in the UK. Eligible participants will be aged 16 or older and have recently undergone a medical or surgical abortion for reasons other than fetal anomaly. Within facilities, clinical staff will direct clients to team researchers for further discussion and study consent. Those having hospital-based abortions will be recruited at their initial assessment. In addition, project information and contact details will be placed in clinical units to enable women interested in participating to contact the researchers.
Interviews will explore participants' views and experiences of abortion provision, care and support. As one component of a larger, multi-component and mixed-methods research study, findings from these interviews will contribute to an evidence base to inform the optimal configuration of health services and systems in response to current and future changes in the legal and regulatory context of abortion provision in the UK.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0236
Date of REC Opinion
5 May 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion