Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Erlangen.

This master's thesis is based on a Minor Field Study (MFS) and conducted in Nicaragua during seven weeks in the spring of 2011. Nicaragua has since 2006 been given international attention due to the National Assembly's decision to criminalize the previously allowed therapeutic abortion. The procedure could be used by women whose pregnancies turned out to be life threatening is now considered illegal and can result in years of imprisonment, both for women and doctors.This study focus upon the perception and opinions regarding this law among women living in Nicaragua. Distinction was made between women living in rural and urban settings. Further, women employed within organizations were chosen as a final group of interest. The aim of the study has been to explore if these women's perception have resulted in different levels of frustration and further how this variation in frustration can be explained. The study is mainly based on interviews conducted with these three groups of women. Relative deprivation was used as an analytical framework in order to explain how women's frustration could vary.It can be concluded that there were large differences in women's awareness and knowledge of the law and rural women appeared to have a rather small perceived frustration. The deprivation increased among women in urban areas, but became most intense among women active within organizations. The study has shown that religiosity, awareness and information about the law and its consequences, organization activity and to some extent level of education have the possibilities of affecting the level of frustration. The present frustration towards the law which criminalize therapeutic abortion is however not sufficient to cause collective violence or a similar reaction.

The objective of the present article is to analyze the process of introducing the regulation of therapeutic abortion into the peruvian governmental agenda, identifying the factors that came together to generate such event, the period of study being between the years 2005 to 2014. The investigation corroborates that said event was possible due to the confluence of certain political and institutional factors on the national stages, the strategy of groups in favor (pro-choice) and against (pro-life) the regulation, and international influence. / El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar el proceso de ingreso de la reglamentación del aborto terapéutico en la agenda política gubernamental peruana, así como identificar los factores que confluyeron para generar dicho ingreso, siendo el periodo de estudio entre los años 2005 y 2014. La investigación corrobora que dicho ingreso fue posible gracias a la confluencia de ciertos factores políticos e institucionales del ámbito nacional, de las estrategias de los grupos a favor (pro-elección) y en contra (pro-vida) de la reglamentación, y de la influencia internacional.

Improving the quality of abortion care can reduce stigma, increase access, and enhance knowledge about pregnancy prevention and reproductive health. Midwifery-led medication abortion is considered effective, efficient, accessible, person-centred, equitable, and safe in alignment with the World Health Organization’s framework on quality abortion care. As research on client-centred access to healthcare recommends, Ontario’s expanded midwifery care models are improving the ease with which people can find and use sexual and reproductive services most appropriate to their unique needs. The expanded midwifery care presented in this study demonstrates how midwifery-led medication abortion provides high-quality services, decreases stigma, and improves access to safe, acceptable, and client-centred abortion care, particularly for commonly underserved populations deserving of health equity and Reproductive Justice. / The World Health Organization, the International Confederation of Midwives, and the Canadian Association of Midwives advocate for the inclusion of comprehensive abortion care within midwifery practice. International evidence shows positive outcomes in terms of efficacy, safety, acceptability, and post-abortion contraception uptake when midwives provide abortion services. In Canada, midwifery services are available across various populations, including urban, rural, remote, and Northern areas, suggesting a potential to enhance access and quality of abortion care, particularly for underserved people. Expanding the role of Canadian midwives to include comprehensive abortion care could improve accessibility, address gaps in service provision, support community needs, ensure professional sustainability, foster interprofessional collaboration, and offer continuity of care. Since 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Health has funded Expanded Midwifery Care Models to support midwifery integration, interprofessional collaboration, and delivery of midwifery-led sexual and reproductive care that is not funded under the current payment model. This research explores the individual and shared experiences of midwifery-led medication abortion delivered through Expanded Midwifery Care Models across three distinct regions in Ontario. The study employs interpretive description methodology to understand how midwifery influences the experiences of medication abortion for midwives, collaborating healthcare professionals, and clients. The methodology focuses on exploring how integrating a midwifery model of abortion care supports medication abortion services and promotes Reproductive Justice within primary care settings. By gathering insights from multiple perspectives, the findings hope to inform clinical practice, interest policymakers, and identify outcomes valued by midwives, clients, and healthcare professionals for future research on midwifery-led abortion care. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Quality abortion care improves the lives, health, and wellness of reproductive-aged people. Abortion is time-sensitive and people face barriers to this care. Reproductive-aged people benefit from healthcare systems that make abortion simple, safe, and effective. Internationally, midwives play a significant role in abortion care by delivering comprehensive services within sexual and reproductive healthcare. In Canada, however, the potential of midwifery in providing abortion care has not been fully realized. As an exception, Ontario’s Expanded Midwifery Care Models (EMCMs) - innovative sexual and reproductive healthcare delivery programs - have made it possible for midwives to provide abortion services. Midwifery-led abortion care in EMCMs includes providing early abortion care in ways that make it easier for people who find it difficult to access care. This research explores and compares the personal and professional experiences of medication abortion care delivered by midwives across three regions in Ontario.