[Information and support needs of women planning an abortion according to counselling regulations in Germany - A qualitative study].

Abstract

Background: For women seeking legal abortion care, access to information and care options is not transparent in Germany. This can affect health and complicate the decision-making process. In its guideline, the WHO recommends the use of evidence-based information to enable women to make informed decisions. This qualitative study aims to assess preferences and decisional needs of women in Germany.

Method: For the needs assessment, a qualitative study based on semi-structured guided interviews was conducted with pregnancy conflict counsellors and women who terminated a pregnancy in the past five years in Germany. These data were supplemented with social media group postings of women with pregnancy conflict experiences. All data were analysed using content-structuring analysis according to Kuckartz.

Results: Three women who had undergone an abortion and two pregnancy conflict counsellors were interviewed. In addition, 89 posts from a closed social media group were analysed. Three main categories were identified: women's categorisation in value systems, factors influencing the experience of the care process and information needs of women facing conflict situations in connection with their pregnancy ("pregnancy conflict"). Abortion is considered to be stigmatised, so women rarely use existing counselling services. Overall, there is a high need for information and support among those seeking care. Concerns exist, especially with regard to the methods of abortion. The results of the study also indicate a burden caused by fragmented care, which requires a high degree of self-organisation of women.

Discussion: The care situation in Germany does not meet the recommendations of the WHO guideline on safe abortion. The results indicate that care close to home and with an abortion procedure that meets women's individual preferences and thus complies with their self-determination has not yet been achieved in Germany.

Conclusion: Neutral and evidence-based information could be helpful to enable women to make informed decisions and reduce anxiety. It would also be desirable to increase the opportunities for women to talk about their experiences in a protected environment.