Social connectedness and supported self-management of early medication abortion in the UK

Experiences from the Covid-19 pandemic and learning for the future

Bibliographic Data

ID15097758
AuthorsLesley Hoggart (0000-0002-4786-7950, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, corresponding author), Carrie Purcell (0000-0002-2651-9201, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK), Fiona Bloomer (0000-0003-3347-6403, School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Ulster University, Belfast, UK), Victoria Louise Newton (0000-0003-4622-6286, The Open University), Victoria Newton (0000-0001-9037-7909, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK), Ayomide Oluseye (0000-0003-0490-3365, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK)
Year2024
Volume26
Issue7
Pages855-870
Publication date2024-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2023.2258189
PMID37830180
OpenAlexW4387598913
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited37

Medication abortion has been established globally as safe and effective. This modality has increased accessibility and the opportunity to centre individual autonomy at the heart of abortion care, by facilitating self-managed abortion. Previous research has shown how self-managed abortion is beneficial in myriad settings ranging from problematic to (relatively) unproblematic contexts of access. In this paper we explore the relationship between self-management and sources of support (including health professionals, family, and friends); as well as considering issues of reproductive control and autonomy. Drawing on qualitative, experience-centred interviews, we utilise the concept of social connectedness to examine how supported self-managed abortion was experienced in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, self-management was welcomed, with participants speaking positively about managing their own abortion at home. However, a sense of connectedness was crucial in helping participants deal with difficult experiences; and functioned to support individual autonomy in self-care. This paper is the first to examine factors of connection, support, and isolation, as experienced by those undergoing self-managed abortion in the UK in detail. Our research suggests a continued need to advocate for high quality support for self-managed abortion, as well as for choice of abortion method, to support patient-centered care

Abortion · Autonomy · Political science · Pregnancy · Qualitative research · Social connectedness · Social support · Sociology · Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Social Psychology

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