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

ABSTRACT

Background

Accurate, 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.

Methods

We 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.

Results

Using 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.

Conclusions

People 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.