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. 2022 Jan;48(e1):e6-e12.
doi: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2020-200789. Epub 2020 Nov 23.

Why women choose abortion through telemedicine outside the formal health sector in Germany: a mixed-methods study

Kristina Killinger  1 , Sophie Günther  2 , Rebecca Gomperts  2 , Hazal Atay  2   3 , Margit Endler  4   5
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Free article

Why women choose abortion through telemedicine outside the formal health sector in Germany: a mixed-methods study

Kristina Killinger et al. BMJ Sex Reprod Health. 2022 Jan.
Free article

Abstract

Introduction: Women on Web (WoW) is a global medical abortion telemedicine service operating outside the formal health sector. In April 2019 they opened their helpdesk to Germany. Our aim was to understand the motivations, and perceived barriers to access, for women who choose telemedicine abortion outside the formal health sector in Germany.

Methods: We conducted a parallel convergent mixed-methods study among 1090 women consulting WoW from Germany between 1 January and 31 December 2019. We performed a cross-sectional study of data contained in online consultations and a content analysis of 108 email texts. Analysis was done until saturation; results were merged and triangulation used to validate results.

Results: The quantitative analysis found that the need for secrecy (n=502, 48%) and the wish for privacy (n=500, 48%) were frequent reasons for choosing telemedicine abortion. Adolescents were more likely to report secrecy, cost, stigma and legal restrictions as reasons for using telemedicine abortion compared with older women. The content analysis developed two main themes and seven subsidiary categories, (1) internal motivations for seeking telemedicine abortion encompassing (i) autonomy, (ii) perception of external threat and (iii) shame and stigma, and (2) external barriers to formal abortion care encompassing (iv) financial stress, (v) logistic barriers to access, (vi) provider attitudes and (vii) vulnerability of foreigners.

Conclusions: Women in Germany who choose telemedicine abortion outside the formal health sector do so both from a place of empowerment and a place of disempowerment. Numerous barriers to abortion access exist in the formal sector which are of special relevance to vulnerable groups such as adolescents and undocumented immigrants.

Keywords: abortion; health policy; health services accessibility; induced; qualitative research; reproductive health; reproductive rights.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: Coauthors RG, SG and HA work for or are affiliated with Women on Web.

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