Australian women's fertility experiences prior to a termination of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
This research aimed to investigate the fertility management of women aged over 30 years prior to a termination of pregnancy (TOP) to inform primary health care service delivery providers and policy makers.


METHODS
An ethically approved, two-phase sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used. This paper reports on part of that study.


METHODS
The study was conducted in five South Australian TOP clinics.


METHODS
Women aged over 30 years attending for a TOP in 2009 were invited to participate.


METHODS
The Contraception Sexual Attitude Questionnaire (modified version) of women attending termination of pregnancy services was used.


METHODS
Quantitative data analysis utilized SPSS V16 where simple descriptive statistics were described.


RESULTS
There were 101 questionnaire respondents where 70.5% were Australian women, predominantly married and with children. Women used contraception but experienced method failure, were beginning a new method, or were afraid of side effects. Risk-taking behaviours were reported such as putting the possibility of pregnancy out of their mind, getting carried away and not thinking of pregnancy risk, or frequently having unprotected intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
Service delivery needs to include age specific programs, and policy makers need to include policies which are adequately funded and evaluated. Further research is required to provide greater depth of knowledge in this area.
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Flinders University, P.O. Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
Wendy
0000-0002-8487-5829
W
Abigail
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Flinders University, P.O. Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
Sheryl
S
de Lacey
D000029:Abortion, Legal; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D013021:South Australia