Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40576217›Full record

ArticlePerspectives on sexual and reproductive health2025

"I'm Pregnant, What Do I Do?": Exploring How People Having Abortions in Britain Find and Use Online Sources of Information.

Rosa Mackay, Rachel Scott, Maria Lewandowska, Rebecca Meiksin, Natasha Salaria, Patricia A Lohr, Sharon Cameron, Melissa Palmer, Rebecca S French, Kaye Wellings and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Rosa MackayDepartment of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Rachel ScottFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Maria LewandowskaFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Rebecca MeiksinFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Natasha SalariaFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Patricia A LohrCentre for Reproductive Research & Communication, British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Leicester, UK.
Sharon CameronQueen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Edinburgh, UK.
Melissa PalmerFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Rebecca S FrenchFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Kaye WellingsFaculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
SACHA Study Team

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research NIHR129529
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccurate, timely, and supportive information is important for high-quality abortion care. Limited research explores how people find and use online sources of information (OSI) during the abortion process, particularly in Britain. Understanding experiences of using OSI is important for the development of person-centered services and resources.

methodsWe conducted a thematic analysis of qualitative data from 41 semi-structured interviews carried out in 2021/2022 with people who had recent experience of abortion in Britain.

resultsUsing OSI was common amongst participants. Our analysis generated four distinct motivations for doing so. People used OSI to find information about accessing abortion services. OSI was also used to demystify abortion, as many participants did not understand what the process involved or know what to expect. Connection and solidarity were sought through OSI, and some participants felt supported by the content they found, particularly through the accounts of others. Finally, people used OSI to explore their relationship with their pregnancy during the abortion process. Using OSI brought benefits-including finding non-judgmental and supportive resources-and challenges, including struggling to find relevant information or encountering negative stories and anti-abortion views. Nonetheless, participants appreciated OSI and expressed a desire for more real-life stories and online spaces where they could connect with others.

conclusionsPeople having abortions want and need different things from the online resources they consult. However, OSI have the potential to provide valuable information, connection, and a place for exploration around the topic of abortion. Future work should explore how OSI can meet these different needs, guided by the motivations of users.

Indexed as

Abortion, InducedInformation Seeking BehaviorInternetAdultFemaleHumansInformation SourcesInterviews as TopicMiddle AgedPregnancyQualitative ResearchUnited KingdomYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40576217
PMCPMC12421082

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.