Sarah Ireland|Suzanne Belton|Frances Doran
‘I didn’t feel judged’: exploring women’s access to telemedicine abortion in rural Australia
Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|Southern Cross University
abstract introductionregardless geographical location safe legal abortion essential reproductive health service accessing abortion problematic women rural areas although telemedicine globally established safe effective medical abortion urban settings paucity research exploring access telemedicine abortion women rural locations aimthe aim qualitative research explore better understand womens access telemedicine abortion australian rural areas methodsstructured interviews conducted women n11 living rural areas experienced telemedicine abortion within last 6 months phone interviews recorded transcribed verbatim data underwent patientcentred access framework analysis coded according domain categories approachabilityability perceive acceptabilityability seek availabilityability reach affordabilityability pay appropriatenessability engage resultsrural women severely limited access abortion care five domains patientcentred access model demonstrated women prerequisite personal skills circumstances offered lowcost service compassionate staff technical competence telemedicine innovate ensure rural communities access essential reproductive health services discussiontelemedicine offers innovative model ensuring womens access medical abortion services rural areas australia likely similar applicability international nonurban contexts strategies needed ensure women lower literacy less favourable situational contexts equitably access abortion services telemedicine