Medical abortion ratios and gender equality in Europe: an ecological correlation study
Medical abortion (MA) is recommended by the WHO as a safe and effective pregnancy termination method in the first trimester. From a feminist perspective, it is a non-medicalised, self-managed, emancipating procedure allowing persons seeking abortion to be more in control of their abortion, as oppose...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2021.1985814 |
| _version_ | 1798025267595182080 |
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| author | Céline Miani |
| author_facet | Céline Miani |
| author_sort | Céline Miani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Medical abortion (MA) is recommended by the WHO as a safe and effective pregnancy termination method in the first trimester. From a feminist perspective, it is a non-medicalised, self-managed, emancipating procedure allowing persons seeking abortion to be more in control of their abortion, as opposed to surgical procedures. In European countries where MA is legal, the proportion of MA (relative to surgical abortions) varies greatly. We hypothesised that this ratio may be partly explained by country-level dimensions of gender equality. We assessed the association between MA ratios and gender equality in Europe in correlation and regression analyses, using several country-level gender equality indices. The relevance of other factors, i.e. date of introduction of MA and pregnancy week until which MA is permitted, was also investigated. MA ratios ranged from 24.4% (Italy) to 97.7% (Finland). MA was more frequent relative to surgical abortion in countries with higher levels of gender equality. All gender equality indices were associated with MA ratios (e.g. Global Gender Gap Index corr. coeff: 0.761, p < 0.0001). Specifically, markers of economic and political gender equality seemed to drive the correlations. The pregnancy week until which MA is permitted was associated with both gender equality and MA ratios. Our study suggests that women’s participation in the economic and political sphere may have repercussions on the methods offered and used through abortion services. It highlights the link between feminist perspectives, reproductive health policies and practices, and gender equality, especially in terms of access to economic resources and political representation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:17:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0dd0bff932ba40399afbbe91bc0f7659 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2641-0397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:17:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
| spelling | doaj.art-0dd0bff932ba40399afbbe91bc0f76592022-12-22T04:09:52ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSexual and Reproductive Health Matters2641-03972021-01-0129121423110.1080/26410397.2021.19858141985814Medical abortion ratios and gender equality in Europe: an ecological correlation studyCéline Miani0Bielefeld UniversityMedical abortion (MA) is recommended by the WHO as a safe and effective pregnancy termination method in the first trimester. From a feminist perspective, it is a non-medicalised, self-managed, emancipating procedure allowing persons seeking abortion to be more in control of their abortion, as opposed to surgical procedures. In European countries where MA is legal, the proportion of MA (relative to surgical abortions) varies greatly. We hypothesised that this ratio may be partly explained by country-level dimensions of gender equality. We assessed the association between MA ratios and gender equality in Europe in correlation and regression analyses, using several country-level gender equality indices. The relevance of other factors, i.e. date of introduction of MA and pregnancy week until which MA is permitted, was also investigated. MA ratios ranged from 24.4% (Italy) to 97.7% (Finland). MA was more frequent relative to surgical abortion in countries with higher levels of gender equality. All gender equality indices were associated with MA ratios (e.g. Global Gender Gap Index corr. coeff: 0.761, p < 0.0001). Specifically, markers of economic and political gender equality seemed to drive the correlations. The pregnancy week until which MA is permitted was associated with both gender equality and MA ratios. Our study suggests that women’s participation in the economic and political sphere may have repercussions on the methods offered and used through abortion services. It highlights the link between feminist perspectives, reproductive health policies and practices, and gender equality, especially in terms of access to economic resources and political representation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2021.1985814medical abortionself-managed abortiongender equalityeuropeecological studyfeminism |
| spellingShingle | Céline Miani Medical abortion ratios and gender equality in Europe: an ecological correlation study Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters medical abortion self-managed abortion gender equality europe ecological study feminism |
| title | Medical abortion ratios and gender equality in Europe: an ecological correlation study |
| title_full | Medical abortion ratios and gender equality in Europe: an ecological correlation study |
| title_fullStr | Medical abortion ratios and gender equality in Europe: an ecological correlation study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medical abortion ratios and gender equality in Europe: an ecological correlation study |
| title_short | Medical abortion ratios and gender equality in Europe: an ecological correlation study |
| title_sort | medical abortion ratios and gender equality in europe an ecological correlation study |
| topic | medical abortion self-managed abortion gender equality europe ecological study feminism |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2021.1985814 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT celinemiani medicalabortionratiosandgenderequalityineuropeanecologicalcorrelationstudy |