Attitudes towards models of abortion care in sexual and reproductive health: perspectives of Australian health professionals

Nicola Sheeran; Liz Jones; Bonney Corbin; Catriona Melville

doi:10.1071/PY24100

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Attitudes towards models of abortion care in sexual and reproductive health: perspectives of Australian health professionals

Nicola Sheeran ^A ^* , Liz Jones ^B , Bonney Corbin ^C and Catriona Melville ^D

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Griffith University, School of Applied Psychology, Mt Gravatt Campus, 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, 4122, Qld, Australia.

^B Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 47500, Malaysia.

^C MSI Asia Pacific, 425 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Vic 3065, Australia.

^D MSI Australia, GPO Box 1635, Melbourne, Vic 3001, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: n.sheeran@griffith.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 30, PY24100 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY24100

Submitted: 3 July 2024 Accepted: 11 November 2024 Published: 28 November 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

Abortion care is typically undertaken by doctors; however, alternate models, including nurse-led care, are increasingly seen as viable alternatives. However, attitudes towards the leadership of alternate models can be a barrier to change. We explored the acceptability of different models of abortion care, and whether attitudes differed by health profession for those working in sexual and reproductive health.

Methods

Our mixed method survey explored how doctors, nurses/midwives and those working in administrative roles in primary care in Australia felt about three models of abortion care: doctor-led, nurse-led and self-administered. ANOVAs compared favourability ratings and attitude strength across groups, and qualitative data exploring how they felt about each model was thematically analysed using Leximancer.

Results

Attitudes towards doctor-led and nurse-led models of care were overwhelmingly positive. However, doctors perceived doctor-led care more favourably than other professionals, and felt it provides a more holistic, safer experience, that opportunistically facilitated discussions about other sexual and reproductive health matters. Self-administered care was perceived unfavourably by ~60% of participants, and was associated with significant safety concerns.

Conclusions

Most health professionals working in sexual and reproductive health care perceive that nurse-led models of care are viable and acceptable, although doctors feel there are additional benefits to the current model. Self-administered abortion is overwhelmingly perceived as unsafe. Nurse-led care models could increase access to safe abortion in Australia, and are perceived favourably by those working in sexual and reproductive health care.

Keywords: abortion care, attitudes, doctors, health professionals, nurse-led care, nurses, reproductive health, self-administered abortion, sexual health.

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