School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, UK
Medical School, University College London, London, UK.
BMJ Sex Reprod Health. 2022 Jan;48(1):35-40. doi: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2020-200959. Epub 2021 Mar 4.
Abortion became decriminalised in Northern Ireland in October 2019. Until that point there existed no evidence concerning the views of health professionals on decriminalisation or on their willingness to be involved in abortion care. The purpose of this study was to address this lack of evidence, including all categories of health professionals working in obstetrics and gynaecology units in Northern Ireland.
The online survey was targeted at medical, nursing and midwifery staff working in the obstetrics and gynaecology units in each Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust in Northern Ireland. The survey was issued via clinical directors in each Trust using the REDCap platform.
The findings showed widespread support for decriminalisation of abortion up until 24 weeks' gestation (n=169, 54%). The majority of clinicians stated they were willing to provide abortions in certain circumstances (which were undefined) (n=188, 60% medical abortions; n=157, 50% surgical abortions). Despite regional variation, the results show that there are sufficient numbers of clinicians to provide a service within each HSC Trust. The results indicate that many clinicians who report a religious affiliation are also supportive of decriminalisation (n=46, 51% Catholic; n=53, 45% Protestant) and are willing to provide care, countering the assumption that those of faith would all raise conscientious objections to service provision.
The findings of this study are very encouraging for the development, implementation and delivery of local abortion care within HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland and should be of value in informing commissioners and providers about the design of a service model and its underpinning training programmes.
2019 年 10 月，北爱尔兰的堕胎行为合法化。在此之前，关于卫生专业人员对堕胎合法化的看法，或他们是否愿意参与堕胎护理，没有任何证据。本研究旨在解决这一证据空白，包括在北爱尔兰产科和妇科单位工作的所有类别的卫生专业人员。
这项在线调查的对象是在北爱尔兰每个卫生和社会保健信托机构的产科和妇科单位工作的医疗、护理和助产人员。调查是通过每个信托的临床主任使用 REDCap 平台发布的。
调查结果显示，广泛支持在 24 周妊娠前将堕胎合法化（n=169，54%）。大多数临床医生表示，他们愿意在某些情况下提供堕胎服务（未定义）（n=188，60%为药物流产；n=157，50%为手术流产）。尽管存在区域差异，但结果表明，每个 HSC 信托中都有足够数量的临床医生提供服务。结果表明，许多报告有宗教信仰的临床医生也支持堕胎合法化（n=46，51%天主教；n=53，45%新教），并愿意提供护理，这反驳了宗教人士会对服务提供提出良心反对的假设。
本研究的结果非常令人鼓舞，为北爱尔兰 HSC 信托内的堕胎护理的发展、实施和提供提供了依据，应该有助于向决策者和提供者提供有关服务模式设计及其基础培训计划的信息。
