TY - JOUR
T1 - Eliciting qualitative information about induced abortion
T2 - Lessons from Northeast Thailand
AU - Whittaker, Andrea
PY - 2002/12/1
Y1 - 2002/12/1
N2 - Obtaining reliable information about induced abortion is notoriously difficult, especially where abortion is illegal. This article describes methods used in a study of illegal induced abortion among village women in Northeast Thailand. A variety of methods were used to gather in-depth qualitative data on abortion experiences including a randomized interview survey on reproductive health, in-depth interviews with women who had experienced an induced abortion in the last two years, and the use of vignettes in focus group discussions with men and women. The survey provided a broad overview of the extent of the experience of abortion. In-depth interviews through social networks proved more successful for obtaining reliable accounts of abortions and suggest that survey results were underestimates. Focus groups discussed the situational ethics involved in abortion decisions. Within an appropriate context and study design, it is possible to obtain highly sensitive information while respecting the privacy of informants.
AB - Obtaining reliable information about induced abortion is notoriously difficult, especially where abortion is illegal. This article describes methods used in a study of illegal induced abortion among village women in Northeast Thailand. A variety of methods were used to gather in-depth qualitative data on abortion experiences including a randomized interview survey on reproductive health, in-depth interviews with women who had experienced an induced abortion in the last two years, and the use of vignettes in focus group discussions with men and women. The survey provided a broad overview of the extent of the experience of abortion. In-depth interviews through social networks proved more successful for obtaining reliable accounts of abortions and suggest that survey results were underestimates. Focus groups discussed the situational ethics involved in abortion decisions. Within an appropriate context and study design, it is possible to obtain highly sensitive information while respecting the privacy of informants.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036730350&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07399330290107386
DO - 10.1080/07399330290107386
M3 - Article
C2 - 12418984
AN - SCOPUS:0036730350
SN - 0739-9332
VL - 23
SP - 631
EP - 641
JO - Health Care for Women International
JF - Health Care for Women International
IS - 6-7
ER -