A woman centred service in termination of pregnancy: A grounded theory study

Abstract

The issue of abortion is contentious. It challenges those involved emotionally and ethically and, although in the UK it is set within legal parameters, it remains controversial. The involvement of nurses and midwives in abortion care has not been explored to any great depth. In the UK, there has been a sustained increase in the number of medical compared to surgical terminations over the last decade. Nurses/midwives are at the forefront of this procedure and, because of the current political climate, their involvement is likely to increase in the future. This grounded theory study aimed to explore how nurses and midwives perceive their role with women undergoing termination of pregnancy and how they cope with their increased involvement with these women.

Keywords:

• termination of pregnancy
• abortion
• feminist ethics
• grounded theory
• gynaecology nursing