The growing field of postabortion care research has consistently documented that a sizeable proportion of women who seek emergency care for incomplete abortion claim that the pregnancy just lost was wanted. In many settings this proportion can be up to two thirds of all postabortion patients. These cases are not all spontaneous miscarriage and are an indication of how normative pressure exerts an influence on the social labeling of abortion practices. Similar effects have been noted in the field of survey research that investigates the prevalence of abortion, resulting in under-reporting. This paper will posit that most of these cases are the result of deliberative abortion practices being masked as emergency contraception or mentsturual regulation practices, whether traditional or assisted by medical practicitioners. Drawing upon data collected in Egypt, Bangladesh and India this paper explores the affective domains and instrumental aspects of coping behaviors surrounding unacknowledged unwanted pregnancies. The implications of this research for future studies on abortion practices, as well as on the introduction of emergency contraception and improvements in the quality of menstrual regulation services.
Learning Objectives: At the close of this session the participants will be able to: 1) Identify a range of traditional practices used by women in Egypt, Bangladesh and India to self-induce mensturation and misscarriage of early gestational age pregnancies. 2) Discuss the relevance of these practices for counseling on the correct use of oral contraceptives as emergency contraception
Keywords: Abortion, International Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.