The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50105

Stan Becker, PhD, Population, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, Paul D. Blumenthal, MD, MPH, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, George Huggins, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins, Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, Stephanie Hires, BA, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins University, Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, Nell Molano di Targiana, CRNP, Ob Gyn, Johns HOpkins University, Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, and Britta Beenhakker, MHS, Population, Johns Hopkins Univ., 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-955-4485, sbecker@jhsph.edu.

Of the approximately one million abortions each year in the U.S., about half are repeat abortions, representing two failures of preventive health care. While most abortion providers counsel women about contraception, one reason for the high repeat rate could be failure to take into account the social context of the woman–in particular the male partner.

To assess whether there might be a window of opportunity for an educational and/or counseling intervention with the partner at the time of the abortion, we undertook a pilot study at an inner city abortion clinic. Women presenting for abortion were asked if they would participate. A short questionnaire was administered at the initial visit and the day of the procedure to determine who accompanied her, and several background variables. Between 5/2001 and 1/2002 44 women were enrolled.

The age range of clients was 15-41 (median of 21.5 years). 61% had no previous abortion. 53% of women were accompanied by someone on the initial visit and the same percentage were accompanied the day of the procedure. In 25% of cases (n=11), the partner who got her pregnant accompanied her at the initial visit, the day of the procedure, or both and in two other cases he picked her up the day of the procedure. It was slightly more likely for the woman to be accompanied by her mother. The mean age of women accompanied by the mother was 18.9 years while that for women accompanied by the partner was 29.7 years (p<.001).

Learning Objectives:

• To understand to what extent women obtaining abortions are accompanied by their partners, in order to assess whether an intervention might be feasible

Keywords: Abortion,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.