Training abortion doulas in Northern Ireland: lessons from a COVID-19 context

Emma Campbell; Naomi Connor; Suzie Heaney; Fiona K. Bloomer

doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201098

Training abortion doulas in Northern Ireland: lessons from a COVID-19 context

Emma Campbell, Naomi Connor, Suzie Heaney, Fiona K. Bloomer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

81 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Historically, societies have long-standing traditions of birth doulas, as lay persons who support the pregnant woman/person during the birthing process, with contemporary studies affirming their positive impact.1

In parallel, abortion doulas have held roles in assisting in abortion.2 The role centres on emotional and social support, with evidence of their impact increasing in the last decade.3–5 While some doulas operate within specific roles, a full-spectrum doula is involved in all reproductive health outcomes.3

While the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) broadly and in particular abortion services,6–8 it also presented opportunities including abortion doulas working alongside clinical services to complement and be integrated within SRH. In this article we set out the development of abortion doula training in Northern Ireland (NI), within the pandemic context.

Original language	English
Number of pages	2
Journal	BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health
Volume	47
Early online date	18 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201098
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 12 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding This study was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.

Keywords

COVID-19
abortion
induced
Pregnancy
SARS-CoV-2
Humans
Doulas
Female
Northern Ireland
Abortion, Induced

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201098

training abortion doulas revised version June 2021 clean copyAuthor Accepted Manuscript, 141 KB

https://srh.bmj.com/content/early/2021/06/17/bmjsrh-2021-201098

Cite this

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title = "Training abortion doulas in Northern Ireland: lessons from a COVID-19 context",

abstract = "Historically, societies have long-standing traditions of birth doulas, as lay persons who support the pregnant woman/person during the birthing process, with contemporary studies affirming their positive impact.1In parallel, abortion doulas have held roles in assisting in abortion.2 The role centres on emotional and social support, with evidence of their impact increasing in the last decade.3–5 While some doulas operate within specific roles, a full-spectrum doula is involved in all reproductive health outcomes.3While the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) broadly and in particular abortion services,6–8 it also presented opportunities including abortion doulas working alongside clinical services to complement and be integrated within SRH. In this article we set out the development of abortion doula training in Northern Ireland (NI), within the pandemic context.",

keywords = "COVID-19, abortion, induced, Pregnancy, SARS-CoV-2, Humans, Doulas, Female, Northern Ireland, Abortion, Induced",

author = "Emma Campbell and Naomi Connor and Suzie Heaney and Bloomer, {Fiona K.}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding This study was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.",

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doi = "10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201098",

language = "English",

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journal = "BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health",

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T1 - Training abortion doulas in Northern Ireland: lessons from a COVID-19 context

AU - Campbell, Emma

AU - Connor, Naomi

AU - Heaney, Suzie

AU - Bloomer, Fiona K.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding This study was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.

PY - 2021/10/12

Y1 - 2021/10/12

N2 - Historically, societies have long-standing traditions of birth doulas, as lay persons who support the pregnant woman/person during the birthing process, with contemporary studies affirming their positive impact.1In parallel, abortion doulas have held roles in assisting in abortion.2 The role centres on emotional and social support, with evidence of their impact increasing in the last decade.3–5 While some doulas operate within specific roles, a full-spectrum doula is involved in all reproductive health outcomes.3While the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) broadly and in particular abortion services,6–8 it also presented opportunities including abortion doulas working alongside clinical services to complement and be integrated within SRH. In this article we set out the development of abortion doula training in Northern Ireland (NI), within the pandemic context.

AB - Historically, societies have long-standing traditions of birth doulas, as lay persons who support the pregnant woman/person during the birthing process, with contemporary studies affirming their positive impact.1In parallel, abortion doulas have held roles in assisting in abortion.2 The role centres on emotional and social support, with evidence of their impact increasing in the last decade.3–5 While some doulas operate within specific roles, a full-spectrum doula is involved in all reproductive health outcomes.3While the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) broadly and in particular abortion services,6–8 it also presented opportunities including abortion doulas working alongside clinical services to complement and be integrated within SRH. In this article we set out the development of abortion doula training in Northern Ireland (NI), within the pandemic context.

KW - COVID-19

KW - abortion

KW - induced

KW - Pregnancy

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Humans

KW - Doulas

KW - Female

KW - Northern Ireland

KW - Abortion, Induced

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U2 - 10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201098

DO - 10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201098

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 34642208

SN - 2515-2009

VL - 47

JO - BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health

JF - BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health

ER -

Training abortion doulas in Northern Ireland: lessons from a COVID-19 context

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this