Project explores women’s health services

A Southern Cross University health researcher is undertaking a project exploring rural NSW women's access to pregnancy termination services and what support services are available.

The aim of the project is to identify factors that both facilitate and hinder rural women's access to termination services. The results will be used to inform health service improvement, particularly in improving equitable access and support for women living in rural areas.

The project has been approved by the Human Ethics Committee at Southern Cross University (Approval Number ECN-13-060). Under the ethics approval, the researcher’s identity is not to be publicly disclosed.

“Many rural women face disadvantage in relation to their ability to access appropriate health services and sometimes have to travel lengthy distances to access termination services,” the researcher said.

“One out of five women will access termination services, but there are still a lot of myths and silence around the issue.”

The researcher, in the School of Health and Human Sciences, said overall there was scant research on women's experiences of seeking access to terminations despite the fact that a significant proportion of Australian women have a termination at some time in their lives.

“We need to understand women’s experiences to be able to increase awareness and to develop appropriate support services.”

The researcher is inviting rural women aged over 18 years, living in NSW, who have accessed a termination service to participate in this study. Participation would involve a confidential phone interview.

If you would like further information about the project and would be willing to participate in an interview, phone 0497 808 769 for more information. Please leave your name and phone number and the researcher will return your call. You can also send a confidential email to womenshealth@scu.edu.au Only the researcher can access this email address.