The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60113

Aspen Baker¹, Taylor A. Haas, MSc², and Yvette P. Cuca, MPH, MIA¹. (1) Exhale, 484 Lake Park Avenue, #63, Oakland, CA 94610, 510-446-7900, aspen@4exhale.org, (2) Consultant, 717 Kansas Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

A woman’s decision to have an abortion is influenced by a wide variety of behavioral, lifestyle, cultural and social factors, including economic resources, relationships, community norms and political and religious beliefs. These factors, combined with the quality of the abortion service, personal coping expectations and the controversy surrounding the topic, influence a woman’s emotional response following the procedure. For minority women who, because of their culture or language, may experience additional barriers to accessing appropriate health and social resources, anonymous and confidential after-abortion telephone counseling helps address behavioral and social factors that contribute to health, while providing a gateway to additional services and resources to create a network of support that extends beyond the talkline. As an integral link in the San Francisco Bay Area's network of social and health services, the Exhale talkline respects and works within each caller's belief system - religious, social, political - to support their needs. Counselor training focuses on myriad cultural, spiritual, economic, health and sexual issues related to the abortion experience. To further the health and well-being of women, the talkline refers callers to a variety of other community resources as needed, including domestic violence, suicide prevention, youth crisis, rape crisis, and social service agencies, as well as food banks and medical and mental health providers. Using data from calls in the first two years, this paper examines frequency and types of post-abortion callers, referrals made to social and health resources, and challenges and lessons learned in serving cultural and linguistic minorities.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to:
• Identify factors that contribute to a woman’s decision to have an abortion and how these intersect with coping abilities and community support networks.
• Define the components of a model of peer counseling specific to abortion aftercare focused on the individual and emotional needs of women.
• Outline the social service and community health resources that comprise a network of support

Keywords: Post-Abortion, Minority Health

Related Web page: www.4exhale.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Executive Director