title: Rural New South Wales women's access to abortion services: highlights from an exploratory qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to identify factors that New South Wales (NSW) rural women experience in relation to their ability to access an abortion service and follow-up care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The qualitative responses from interviews are reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rural and regional NSW.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staff from community based non-government Women's Health Centres across regional/rural NSW and women in rural NSW who had accessed an abortion in the preceding fifteen years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A number of barriers that NSW rural women experience in relation to their ability to access an abortion and follow-up care were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main barrier rural women experienced was travelling relatively long distances to access an abortion clinic because of lack of services in their local area. Women with limited financial resources needed to borrow money for the procedure and associated costs of travel and accommodation. Women's Health Centres provide a range of support and referral information. Lack of integrated care was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rural women's access to abortion services are impacted by the availability, accessibility and affordability of services and prevailing negative social attitudes. This exploratory study provides a snapshot of women's experiences of the process of seeking an abortion in rural NSW, where they are not available locally and women have to travel out of the area to access services. Findings indicate rural women experience multiple barriers in relation to their ability to access abortion services and follow-up care, which may impact on overall health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hornibrook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: access issue; health service access; public health; rural women's health; women's health