Young migrant and refugee people's views on unintended pregnancy and abortion in Sydney

Bibliographic Data

ID3663736
AuthorsJessica R Botfield (0000-0001-6157-9739, Family Planning NSW, Ashfield, Australia, corresponding author), Christy E Newman (0000-0002-5482-2822, UNSW Sydney), Deborah Bateson (0000-0003-1035-7110, Family Planning NSW, Ashfield, Australia), Bridget Haire (0000-0002-0657-9610, The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Kensington, Australia), Jane Estoesta (0000-0001-6112-6158, Family Planning NSW, Ashfield, Australia), Christine Förster (0000-0001-6748-5119, UNSW Law, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia), Jennifer Schulz Moore (UNSW Law, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia)
Year2020
Volume29
Issue2
Pages195-210
Publication date2020-05-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Sociology Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1446-1242 • E-ISSN: 1839-3551
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14461242.2020.1764857
PMID33411657
OpenAlexW3026059453
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited32

Although abortion rates appear to be declining in high-income nations, there is still a need for accessible, safe abortion services. However, limited attention has been paid to understanding the social contexts which shape access to abortion information and services for communities who are less engaged with sexual and reproductive health care more generally. This paper explores the views and experiences of 27 migrant and refugee young people (16-24 years old) living in Sydney, Australia, regarding unintended pregnancy and abortion. Pregnancy outside marriage was described by all participants as a shameful prospect as it revealed pre-marital sexual activity. Even when abortion was described as culturally and/or religiously unacceptable, it was believed many families would find an abortion preferable to continuing an unintended pregnancy outside marriage. However, a pervasive culture of silence regarding sexual and reproductive health may limit access to quality information and support in this area. To better meet the needs of these young people, greater attention must be paid to strengthening youth and community awareness of the availability of contraception including emergency contraception, pregnancy options, and access to abortion information and services

Abortion · Family planning · Political science · Population · Pregnancy · Refugee · Reproductive health · Sociology · Unintended pregnancy · Unsafe abortion · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Gender Studies · Global Maternal and Child Health · Law · Reproductive Health and Contraception

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