SPUC has highlighted the serious issue of coerced and forced abortion in a submission to a government consultation on domestic abuse.
The UK’s Home Office is currently seeking views on draft domestic abuse statutory guidance that will support implementing the definition of domestic abuse at sections 1 to 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act, which was passed in April.
SPUC’s Alithea Williams said: “This guidance will be seen and used by a wide range of official bodies and organisations who work to tackle domestic abuse. Although the draft guidance as it stands has a few glancing references to coerced abortion, much more is needed to ensure that women are protected from this devastating form of abuse.
“We have taken this opportunity to make recommendations on how coerced abortion can be better detected and prevented.”
SPUC’s recommendations include recognising that women and girls can be forced into abortion by family members and partners. Particular groups may be especially vulnerable to coercion, for example, disabled women or members of minority groups.
Intimate partner violence
SPUC also recommended providing more implicit information for professionals on the link between domestic abuse and abortion. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a strong risk factor for abortion all over the world.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]
The relationship between domestic violence and abortion appears to operate in two ways. Firstly, a context of violence leads to coerced abortion; and secondly, abortion itself can enable further violence.[8]
SPUC’s submission quotes research by the World Health Organization (WHO), which “details disturbing impacts of violence on women’s physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health: Women who experience physical or sexual abuse are twice as likely to have an abortion, and the experience nearly doubles their likelihood of falling into depression.”[9]
SPUC’s recommendations
To help detect abuse and coercion, SPUC recommends that a screening protocol for coercion be in place in abortion facilities.
SPUC’s submission also states: “Telemedicine abortion should be ended, as it removes a key opportunity for a victim to speak to a healthcare professional in person.”
SPUC has highlighted how telemedicine abortion puts women at increased risk of coercion and misses opportunities to detect domestic abuse since the policy was introduced last year.
You can read SPUC’s case against DIY abortions here.
The Home Office consultation ends on 14 September.
Hedin LW & Janson PO (2000) Domestic violence during pregnancy: the prevalence of physical injuries, substance use, abortions and miscarriages. ActaObstetriciaetGynecologicaScandinavica79:625-630.
Taft AJ & Watson LF (2007) Termination of pregnancy: associations with partner violence and other factors in a national cohort of young Australian women. Aust NZ J Public Health 31(2):135-142.
Coker AL (2007) Does physical intimate partner violence affect sexual health? A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 8:149-177.
Fanslow Fet al.(2008) Pregnancy outcomes and intimate partner violence in New Zealand. Aust NZ JObstet&Gynaecol 48:391-397.
Coleman PK et al.(2009) Predictors and Correlates of Abortion in the Fragile Families and Well-Being Study: Paternal Behavior, Substance Use, and Partner Violence. Int J Mental Health &Addiction 7(3):405-422.
Silverman JGet al.(2010) Male perpetration of intimate partner violence and involvement in abortions and abortion-related conflict. Am J Public Health 100 (8):1415-1417.