Practices Regarding Rape-related Pregnancy in U.S. Abortion Care Settings

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• 作者：Rachel Perry ; MD ; MPH^a ; ¹ ; ^{rachel.perry@uci.edu" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}Author Vitae ; Molly Murphy ; MPH^bAuthor Vitae ; Kristin M. Rankin ; PhD^bAuthor Vitae ; Allison Cowett ; MD ; MPH^a ; ¹Author Vitae ; Bryna Harwood ; MD ; MS^a ; ¹Author Vitae
• 刊名：Women's Health Issues
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：January-February 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：26
• 期：1
• 页码：67-73
• 全文大小：233 K

文摘

We aimed to explore current practices regarding screening for rape and response to disclosure of rape-related pregnancy in the abortion care setting.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional, nonprobability survey of U.S. abortion providers. Individuals were recruited in person and via emailed invitations to professional organization member lists. Questions in this web-based survey pertained to providers' practice setting, how they identify rape-related pregnancy, the availability of support services, and their experiences with law enforcement. Providers were asked their perceptions of barriers to care for women who report rape-related pregnancy.

Results

Surveys were completed by 279 providers (21% response rate). Most respondents were female (93.1%), and the majority were physicians in a clinical role (69.4%). One-half (49.8%) reported their practice screens for pregnancy resulting from rape, although fewer (34.8%) reported that screening is the method through which most patients with this history are identified. Most (80.6%) refer women with rape-related pregnancy to support services such as rape crisis centers. Relatively few (19.7%) have a specific protocol for care of women who report rape-related pregnancy. Clinics that screen were 79% more likely to have a protocol for care than centers that do not screen. Although the majority (67.4%) reported barriers to identification of women with rape-related pregnancy, fewer (33.3%) reported barriers to connecting them to support services.

Conclusion

Practices for identifying and providing care to women with rape-related pregnancy in the abortion care setting are variable. Further research should address barriers to care provision, as well as identifying protocols for care.