Knowledge, Attitude, and Intended Practice of Abortion among Pharmacology Students in Thailand after the Amendment of the Thai Abortion Law

Abstract

Abstract Background The recently amended Thai abortion law allows pregnant women to undergo abortions up to the gestational age of 12 weeks. Medical abortion is significant because it has revolutionized access to safe abortion care—abortion medicine can now be safely and effectively administered outside of a healthcare facility to women in early pregnancy. This contribution supports the pharmacists’ role in interprofessional safe abortion teamwork. Adequate knowledge of the current laws regarding safe abortion services will increase pharmacists’ competence in providing services. However, safe abortions as a subject has not been formally incorporated into the curriculum for Thai pharmacology students. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and intended practice of fifth-year pharmacology students at Chulalongkorn University. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic self-administered questionnaire adapted from previously published studies to evaluate participants’ knowledge of the recently amended Thai abortion law, attitude toward abortion, and intended practices. The participants were fifth-year pharmacology students at Chulalongkorn University. Results Among the 150 participants, 104 (69.3%) completed the questionnaires. Only a third of the students had good knowledge scores. Most participants answered questions incorrectly regarding the gestational age limit for legal abortion. Although most participants disagreed with pro-choice statements, 87.5% agreed that abortion was a woman’s right. Good knowledge scores were statistically associated with a higher intention to provide abortion care. Furthermore, favorable attitudes were statistically associated with a higher intention to provide abortion care. A positive attitude toward abortion affects the intention to perform an abortion under socioeconomic conditions. Conclusion Most pharmacology students lacked knowledge on the amended abortion law, especially on the gestational limits of abortion. Students with higher knowledge scores and favorable attitudes toward abortion tended to be more liberal regarding safe abortion services.