
Researchers from University of Limerick (UL) have found that women who feel stigmatised after having an abortion, experience increased psychological distress and physical health symptoms.
Dr Aisling OโDonnell of ULโs Department of Psychology, who led the research, explains: โWhile in the past, it has been assumed that having an abortion leads to worse mental or physical health, there has been no research-based evidence that this is the case. However, there is evidence that women who have abortions are stigmatised, and also that numerous types of stigma are linked to worse mental and physical health. That was the starting point for our research.โ
Dr OโDonnell and her team, investigated whether the health issues that related to stigma also applied to the stigma surrounding abortion. The team focused particularly on Ireland, using online surveys to gather information from women who had had abortions about their feelings of stigmatisation and other mental and physical health symptoms.
โIn Ireland, no one can escape the knowledge that abortion is stigmatised in our society, and this includes women who access abortion services,โ Dr OโDonnell says.
โWhen women internalise this stigma, they feel isolated from others, and in turn this is associated with psychological and physical health problems.โ
As her teamโs research has found very real health problems associated with stigmatisation Dr OโDonnell believes that it is incumbent on all citizens to reduce stigmatisation of those who have had abortions.
โRegardless of whether you would support access to abortion or not, we suggest there is no benefit to denigrating the moral character of any of our citizens, particularly when this is associated with worse psychological and physical health.โ She concluded.
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