The first trimester abortion journey Aotearoa: health practitioners' perspectives.

Aim: To gain insight into health practitioners' understanding of how people experience the first trimester abortion journey.

Methods: Qualitative interviews informed by phenomenology with health practitioners from a range of practice settings across Aotearoa New Zealand. Participants were recruited via a separate but related study. Inductive thematic analysis was used to develop themes.

Results: Interviews were undertaken with 18 health practitioners. Analysis revealed three main themes: 1) abortion is a stepwise process, 2) barriers to accessing abortion care, and 3) solutions to improve access to abortion care. There were a number of sub-themes.

Conclusion: While there remain multiple personal, institutional and societal barriers to abortion in Aotearoa, this study identifies potential solutions and that a desire for positive change among health practitioners exists. To achieve this, a strategy is required to ensure that the health consumer is placed at the centre of abortion services to provide accessible, equitable and culturally appropriate care. The primary care sector stands to play a significant role in future abortion provision but requires appropriate funding and support to do so.