title: Women's experiences with legal abortion in Mexico City: a qualitative study.
abstract: In April 2007, elective first-trimester abortion was legalized in Mexico City. As of June 2011, more than 60,000 women from Mexico City and other Mexican states have obtained legal abortions in the city's public hospitals and health centers, with private facilities providing additional abortion services. This study examines women's experiences of abortion services in one public and two private clinic settings in 2008. Twenty-five in-depth interviews were conducted: 15 with women who obtained abortions in a public health center and 10 who obtained the procedure at either of two private clinics. Participants were highly satisfied with services at both public and private sites, although some had to go to more than one site before receiving services. None expressed doubts about their decision to have an abortion, and they felt unanimously that they were treated with respect. Furthermore, participants were pleased with the counseling they received and most accepted a contraceptive method after the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Population Council, Morelos No. 21, Colonia Del Carmen Coyoacán, Mexico City 04100, Mexico. marieke@mvandijkcph.nl
authors.forename: Marieke G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Luis Jorge
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Arellano Mendoza
authors.forename: Ana Gabriela
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Arangure Peraza
authors.forename: Aldo Alberto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Toriz Prado
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krumholz
authors.forename: Eileen A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Yam
mesh_terms: D000023:Abortion Applicants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003267:Contraception; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005260:Female; D006773:Hospitals, Municipal / Q000592:standards; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012736:Sex Education