Seeking support for abortion care from national hotlines in Canada: Caller characteristics and call outcomes, 2019–2021
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Published:2023-07-24
Issue:3
Volume:55
Page:192-199
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ISSN:1538-6341
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Container-title:Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Perspect Sexual Reproductive
Author:
Demont Carly1,
Doctoroff Jill2,
Neron Britt3,
Foster Angel M.14
Affiliation:
1. Faculty of Health Sciences University of Ottawa Ottawa Ontario Canada
2. National Abortion Federation Canada Victoria British Columbia Canada
3. Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights Ottawa Ontario Canada
4. Collaborative on Interdisciplinary Global Abortion Research Ottawa Ontario Canada
Abstract
AbstractObjectivesBoth the National Abortion Federation Canada and Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights operate national toll‐free hotlines that provide information, financial support, and travel assistance to abortion seekers. We aimed to characterize callers to both hotlines before and after the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsHotline personnel routinely document information about callers and type(s) of assistance needed and received. We received call logs from both organizations for a two‐year period (April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2021). We exported these data to Microsoft Excel® and analyzed them using descriptive statistics. We analyzed case notes for content and themes.ResultsOver the study period, the two hotlines worked with 270 unique callers. Nearly two‐thirds of callers (n = 174) were seeking support to obtain abortion care for pregnancies after 14 weeks gestation, including 69 callers (26%) who were at or beyond 24 weeks gestation. Most callers were seeking support to obtain abortion care outside of their province of residence because services at their gestational age were not available. Caller needs were similar before and after the onset of the pandemic, but fewer traveled to the United States for abortion care in the COVID‐19 era.DiscussionAssistance hotlines play an important role in helping some abortion seekers navigate the Canadian health system to obtain needed abortion care. The needs of those seeking care after the 14 weeks gestation points to gaps in current service availability. Identifying ways to expand later abortion care in Canada, particularly after 24 weeks, appears warranted.
Funder
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Publisher
Guttmacher Institute
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Obstetrics and Gynecology,Sociology and Political Science
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