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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Analysing MyOptions
T2 - Experiences of Ireland's abortion information and support service
AU - Grimes, Lorraine
AU - O'Shaughnessy, Aideen
AU - Roth, Rachel
AU - Carnegie, Anna
AU - Duffy, Deirdre Niamh
PY - 2022/7/12
Y1 - 2022/7/12
N2 - Background: In 2018, the Irish government enacted a liberalised abortion law permitting expanded access to abortion from January 2019. A dedicated information and support service - MyOptions - was established to provide non-directive counselling and clinical advice about unplanned pregnancy. MyOptions provides contact details for abortion providers but does not make appointments for abortion-seekers. In 2020, the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC) conducted research into Irish residents' experiences of abortion care under the new law, including their experiences with MyOptions. Methods: Between September 2020 and March 2021, ARC administered an online survey. Qualitative data were coded using NVIVO software and analysed through thematic analysis. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. This article analyses a subsection of these data to answer the question: What were abortion-seekers' experiences of using MyOptions? Results: Many respondents were unaware of MyOptions before becoming pregnant. Some described MyOptions as useful and compassionate. Others noted a lack of clarity from MyOptions about the scope of its service and a lack of information on accessing abortion after 12 weeks. Respondents reported frustration that the service did not arrange appointments, explaining that having to contact general practitioners (GPs) themselves was stressful and time-consuming, as was GPs' refusal to provide care or refer to a willing provider. Conclusions: MyOptions primarily benefits abortion-seekers whose pregnancies are under 12 weeks and who are comfortable contacting a GP themselves. The addition of an appointments booking service and guidance on how to access abortion for medical reasons and abortion after 12 weeks could improve the service.
AB - Background: In 2018, the Irish government enacted a liberalised abortion law permitting expanded access to abortion from January 2019. A dedicated information and support service - MyOptions - was established to provide non-directive counselling and clinical advice about unplanned pregnancy. MyOptions provides contact details for abortion providers but does not make appointments for abortion-seekers. In 2020, the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC) conducted research into Irish residents' experiences of abortion care under the new law, including their experiences with MyOptions. Methods: Between September 2020 and March 2021, ARC administered an online survey. Qualitative data were coded using NVIVO software and analysed through thematic analysis. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. This article analyses a subsection of these data to answer the question: What were abortion-seekers' experiences of using MyOptions? Results: Many respondents were unaware of MyOptions before becoming pregnant. Some described MyOptions as useful and compassionate. Others noted a lack of clarity from MyOptions about the scope of its service and a lack of information on accessing abortion after 12 weeks. Respondents reported frustration that the service did not arrange appointments, explaining that having to contact general practitioners (GPs) themselves was stressful and time-consuming, as was GPs' refusal to provide care or refer to a willing provider. Conclusions: MyOptions primarily benefits abortion-seekers whose pregnancies are under 12 weeks and who are comfortable contacting a GP themselves. The addition of an appointments booking service and guidance on how to access abortion for medical reasons and abortion after 12 weeks could improve the service.
KW - Abortion, Therapeutic
KW - Health Policy
KW - Health Services Research
KW - Patient Advocacy
KW - Patient Rights
KW - Reproductive Health
U2 - 10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201424
DO - 10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201424
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35288458
AN - SCOPUS:85134426790
VL - 48
SP - 222
EP - 226
JO - BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health
JF - BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health
SN - 2515-1991
IS - 3
M1 - 201424
ER -