Agency in young people’s unsafe abortion trajectories in Papua New Guinea

Bibliographic Data

ID15098772
AuthorsElke Mitchell (0000-0002-3048-4160, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author), Lisa Vallely (0000-0002-8247-7683, UNSW Sydney), Lisa M Vallely (Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney), Sophie Ase (Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Herick Aeno (0000-0001-7373-541X, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Priscilla Ofi (Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Priscilla Selon Ofi (0000-0002-8633-8322, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Richard Nake Trumb (Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Richard Naketrumb (0000-0002-0733-6426, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Agnes Mek (0000-0002-2201-1144, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Elissa Kennedy (0000-0003-1961-0629, Burnet Institute), Kirsten Black (0000-0003-0030-2431, The University of Sydney), Glen Mola (0000-0002-9500-7234, University of Papua New Guinea), Glen D L Mola (School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of PNG), Mary Bagita (Port Moresby General Hospital), Mary R Bagita (Obstetrics and Gynaecology Division, Port Moresby General Hospital), William Pomat (0000-0003-2640-9640, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Angela Kelly-Hanku (0000-0003-0152-2954, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney), Stephen Bell (0000-0003-2877-9231, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney), Steve Bell (0000-0003-3891-6623, Burnet Institute)
Year2026
Volume28
Issue3
Pages289-303
Publication date2026-03-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2025.2456623
PMID39873453
OpenAlexW4406907659
LanguageEN
References cited19

Unsafe abortion is a preventable contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly for young unmarried women in low resource settings. In Papua New Guinea, abortion is legally restricted and highly stigmatised, limiting access to safe abortion and post-abortion care, resulting in unsafe abortion. This paper explores young people's lived experiences and agency in relation to unsafe abortion. We undertook qualitative research between 2019 and 2021 in rural, peri-urban and urban settings in Papua New Guinea and found that agency was enacted or constrained at different points along their abortion trajectories. Findings demonstrate the ways in which abortion was negotiated within (and outside of) young people's intimate relationships, while highlighting the social, temporal and emotional dimensions of this agency. By considering what agency means, and the different forms it takes, it is possible to identify critical support mechanisms and socio-structural changes that could support young people at different stages of their abortion trajectories, from accessing modern contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancy, to seeking support for safe abortion. Moving forward, we call for greater attentiveness to young people's everyday lived experiences of sexual and reproductive health as a basis for understanding how to support them to safely prevent and manage unintended pregnancy

Abortion · Agency (philosophy · Environmental health · Family planning · Population · Pregnancy · Qualitative research · Reproductive health · Sociology · Unintended pregnancy · Unsafe abortion · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Gender Studies · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Reproductive Health and Contraception

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