Joke Vandamme

Pre-abortion counselling from women's point of view

Abstract Objective The value of mandatory pre-abortion counselling for women seeking abortions has been repeatedly questioned. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives and feelings of almost 1000 women regarding pre-abortion counselling in Flanders. Methods Participating women (N = 971) – all requesting an abortion at one of the five Flemish abortion centres – were offered a questionnaire prior to the counselling session and immediately afterwards. Both questionnaires measured their emotional and cognitive state as well as aspects of the content and the perceived value of the counselling session. Results Prior to the counselling, women are hesitant regarding the value of the sessions, feel distressed, yet decisive about their abortion. After the counselling session, women assign an increased value to the counselling, are very satisfied, and experience less distress and greater decisiveness. During counselling the abortion procedure (89%), the use of contraceptives (83%) and the individual decision-making process (81%) are nearly always addressed. The sessions are tailored to each woman and to the needs they expressed with regard to the content of the counselling. Conclusions Pre-abortion counselling in Flanders is standardised as well as personalised. The women in this study positively valued it.

The decision to have an abortion from both partners’ perspectives : a dyadic analysis

Abstract Objectives: Male partners are often involved in induced abortion although they have no legal rights. It is, however, unknown how women’s thoughts and feelings regarding the decision for abortion are associated with the decisional experiences of the involved male partners and vice versa. Methods: Flemish women and their involved male partners (IMP) filled out a questionnaire on abortion motives and feelings of decisiveness in the abortion centre waiting room (N = 106 couples). Actor Partner Interdependence Models investigated whether the decisiveness of one partner was associated with a subjective feeling of autonomy (high internal, low external abortion motivation) and decisiveness of the other partner, above and beyond the own feeling of autonomy and personal vulnerabilities for being uncertain. Results: Partner congruence in motivation and decisiveness was substantial (r= 0.23 to 0.42), especially for cohabiting partners. The IMPs were less internally motivated for the abortion than the women but both partners reported more internal than external motives, and they both tended to feel certain. In contrast to the women, a higher subjective feeling of autonomy in the IMPs was not associated with feeling more certain. When accounting for partners’ living situation, levels of uncertainty were not only associated with personal vulnerabilities for being uncertain, but were also related to the degree of uncertainty and subjective level of autonomy of the other partner. Conclusions: Partners’ thoughts and feelings regarding the decision for abortion partially have an interpersonal basis and mostly run parallel despite an inherent gender difference in level and importance of decision autonomy.

Contraceptive use in Flanders (Belgium): A comparison between a general population sample and a Turkish ethnic minority sample

Abstract Objectives To identify contraceptive profiles, and factors affecting these, among women of childbearing age, living in Flanders. Methods The prevalence of knowledge and use of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) and contraceptive use is assessed in two samples from the SEXPERT-survey ‘Sexual health in Flanders’: (i) a population-based sample (n = 724); and (ii) a probability sample of respondents of Turkish descent (n = 216). Results Knowledge, but not use, of the ECP is significantly lower among women from the ethnic minority sample, even after correction for income and educational background. A lower educational level is associated with less knowledge of the ECP in both samples. In the general population sample, 16% of sexually active women of childbearing age are at risk of an unplanned pregnancy, compared to 14% of their peers of Turkish origin. These rates are comparable, even after controlling for the different socio-economic status (income and educational level) in both samples. Conclusions Contraceptive profiles of sexually active women of Turkish descent residing in Flanders are mostly similar to those of their counterparts in the general population. Further research is required to develop strategies to improve ECP-knowledge among women with lower educational achievements. Chinese Abstract 摘要 目的 了解居住在比利时佛兰德斯的育龄妇女的避孕方法的使用情况以及相关的影响因素 方法 由“性专家”调研机构进行“佛兰德斯性健康问卷调查”，调查样本分别来自两个人群，一是普通人群（n=724），二是土耳其后代（第二代移民）（n=216），了解她们对紧急避孕药的了解和使用情况，以及避孕方法的使用情况。 结果 土耳其妇女对紧急避孕药的了解情况，而不是使用情况，要显著低于普通人群，即便是校正了收入情况和教育背景之后。在这两个人群样本中，对紧急避孕药认知的缺乏均是与低教育水平有关的。在普通人群样本中，16%的性活跃育龄妇女有着非意愿妊娠的风险，而在土耳其人群样本中，该风险为14%。在对这两个人群样本校正了社会——经济要素（收入和教育水平等）之后，这些比例基本相似。 结论 在比利时佛兰德斯，普通人和少数民族土耳其后代的性活跃妇女避孕方法使用情况相似。还需要进一步的研究来找到办法，提高低教育水平的妇女对紧急避孕药的认识。