Everything is not abortion stigma

Womens Health Issues. 2013 Nov-Dec;23(6):e329-31. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2013.09.001.

Abstract

The topic of abortion stigma has caught the attention of researchers and activists working on reproductive health and rights around the world. But as research on abortion stigma grows, I fear that the concept is in danger of becoming so large and all-encompassing that it may mask deeply rooted inequalities. In addition, abortion stigma may be seen as too complex and tangled an issue, thereby leading to paralysis. It is important that we become more precise in our understanding of abortion stigma so that we can carry out better research to understand and measure it, design interventions to mitigate it, and evaluate those interventions.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced / psychology*
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Social Stigma*