{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T22:41:00Z","timestamp":1785192060830,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"3","funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008994","name":"European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008994","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"HRA Pharma Foundation"},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100009633","name":"Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100009633","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100012297","name":"Society of Family Planning","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100012297","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Sex Reprod Health"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2018,5,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The Republic of Ireland has one of the world\u2019s most restrictive abortion laws, allowing abortion only to preserve a pregnant woman\u2019s life. We examined the impact of the law on women\u2019s options for accessing abortion, their decision-making regarding whichpathway to follow, and their experiences with their chosen approach.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 38 women who had either travelled abroad to access abortion in a clinic or had self-managed a medical abortion at home using online telemedicine, between 2010 and 2017. We coded interview transcripts according to an iteratively developed coding guide and performed a thematic analysis to identify key themes.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>We identified four key themes: (1) self-managing a medical abortion at home using online telemedicine can be a preference over travelling abroad to access abortion services; (2) regardless of the pathway chosen, women experience a lack of pre- and post-abortion support in the Irish healthcare system; (3) feelings of desperation while searching for safe abortion care can lead to considering or attempting dangerous methods; and (4) Irish abortion law and attitudes have impacts beyond physical health considerations, engendering shame and stigma.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Despite the country\u2019s restrictive abortion law, women in Ireland do obtain abortions, using methods that are legal and safe elsewhere. However, the law negatively impacts women\u2019s ability to discuss their options with their healthcare professionals and to seek follow-up care, and can have serious implications for their physical and emotional health. This study\u2019s findings provide evidence to inform public and policy discourse on Ireland\u2019s abortion laws.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsrh-2018-200113","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,5,15]],"date-time":"2018-05-15T04:20:13Z","timestamp":1526358013000},"page":"181-186","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":39,"title":["Experiences of women in Ireland who accessed abortion by travelling abroad or by using abortion medication at home: a qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"44","author":[{"given":"Abigail R A","family":"Aiken","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA"},{"name":"Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dana M","family":"Johnson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kathleen","family":"Broussard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA"},{"name":"Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elisa","family":"Padron","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,5,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.1","first-page":"13","article-title":"Abortion law and policy around the world: in search of decriminalization","volume":"19","author":"Berer","year":"2017","journal-title":"Health Hum Rights"},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1216","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0528.14486","article-title":"Brief background to Irish abortion law","volume":"124","author":"Mills","year":"2017","journal-title":"BJOG"},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1016\/S0968-8080(13)41711-1","article-title":"Termination of pregnancy as emergency obstetric care: the interpretation of Catholic health policy and the consequences for pregnant women: an analysis of the death of Savita Halappanavar in Ireland and similar cases","volume":"21","author":"Berer","year":"2013","journal-title":"Reprod Health Matters"},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.4","unstructured":"Office of the Attorney General. Electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB). Government of Ireland. Number 35 of 2013. Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013. 2013. http:\/\/www.irishstatutebook.ie\/eli\/2013\/act\/35\/enacted\/en\/pdf (accessed 24 Jan 2018)."},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"667","DOI":"10.1177\/0964663916668246","article-title":"The Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act 2013: suicide, dignity and the Irish discourse on abortion","volume":"25","author":"Murray","year":"2016","journal-title":"Soc Leg Stud"},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1163\/15718093-12341359","article-title":"The right to travel for abortion services: a case study in Irish \u2019Cross-border Reproductive Care'","volume":"22","author":"Mulligan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur J Health Law"},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.7","unstructured":"UK Department of Health. 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Abortion Statistics, England and Wales hosted by the National Archives. http:\/\/webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk\/20130123231223\/http:\/\/www.dh.gov.uk\/en\/Publicationsandstatistics\/Statistics\/StatisticalWorkAreas\/Statisticalpublichealth\/index.htm (accessed 25 Apr 2018)."},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0528.14401"},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.j2011"},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.12","unstructured":"The Citizens\u2019 Assembly. The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. Final Report on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. 2017. https:\/\/www.citizensassembly.ie\/en\/The-Eighth-Amendment-of-the-Constitution\/Final-Report-on-the-Eighth-Amendment-of-the-Constitution\/Final-Report-incl-Appendix-A-D.pdf (accessed 24 Jan 2018)."},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.13","unstructured":"Independent.ie. Citizens' Assembly chairwoman concerned at increasing use of abortion pills. 2017. https:\/\/www.independent.ie\/breaking-news\/irish-news\/citizens-assembly-chairwoman-concerned-at-increasing-use-of-abortion-pills-36152031.html (accessed 24 Jan 2018)."},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.14","unstructured":"Strauss A , Corbin JM . Basics of qualitative research: grounded theory procedures and techniques. Sage Publications, Inc, 1990."},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.15","unstructured":"Irish College of General Practitioners Quality in Practice Committee and HSE. Crisis pregnancy programme. Crisis pregnancy: a management guide for general practice. 2014. Reviewed 2017. https:\/\/www.icgp.ie\/go\/library\/icgp_publications\/quick_reference_guides\/E568181D-D1B1-295B-0807F11B316A86F0.html (accessed 24 Jan 2018)."},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.16","unstructured":"Office of the Attorney General. Electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB). Government of Ireland. Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State For Termination of Pregnancies) Act, 1995. http:\/\/www.irishstatutebook.ie\/eli\/1995\/act\/5\/enacted\/en\/print (accessed 24 Jan 2018)."},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.1086\/655907","article-title":"Interrogating medical tourism: Ireland, abortion, and mobility rights","volume":"36","author":"Gilmartin","year":"2011","journal-title":"Signs"},{"key":"2025090512012449000_44.3.181.18","unstructured":"Sanghani R . Ireland\u2019s abortion problem: new report lays bare the horrifying truth. 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Ireland\u2019s hidden diaspora \u2013 the \u2019abortion trail' and the making of a London-Irish Underground, 1980-2000. 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