Abortion Trajectory, Timing, and Access Study (ATTAS): study protocol

This study protocol outlines the phased construction of a questionnaire, data collection, and a strategy for analysis within the framework of the ATTAS project. This study has two primary objectives. First, it allows us to map the duration of the various phases of the abortion trajectory for women p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of public health = Archives belges de santé publique 2024-11, Vol.82 (1), p.211-8, Article 211
Main Authors: Wallays, Anna, Van de Velde, Sarah
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion
Analysis
Barrier
Data entry
Delay
Flanders
Information management
Legal limit
Study Protocol
Trajectory
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Summary:This study protocol outlines the phased construction of a questionnaire, data collection, and a strategy for analysis within the framework of the ATTAS project. This study has two primary objectives. First, it allows us to map the duration of the various phases of the abortion trajectory for women presenting for abortion in Flanders, Belgium. Second, it identifies barriers that cause delays within these phases. The questionnaire was distributed to all women seeking abortion care at one of the five Flemish abortion centers; specifically, the LUNA centers, which are located in Ostend, Ghent, Antwerp, and Hasselt, as is the VUB-Dilemma center in Brussels during the fall and winter of 2023-2024. Ethical clearance for the described research was obtained from the University of Antwerp's Ethics Committee for the Social Sciences and Humanities (reference numbers: SHW_2023_48_1 and SHW_2023_48_2). The collected data provide a dataset on the abortion trajectories of Flanders women who presented for abortion. This study protocol outlines the ATTAS project's rationale, phased development, and implementation of the questionnaire, as well as the upcoming data analyses. To our knowledge, this is the first study within the Flemish context to investigate abortion trajectories, timing, and access. Furthermore, this study protocol provides a phased and systematic approach to adapt validated research instruments to fit within diverse legal and cultural contexts. Building on this protocol, future research will seek to advance reproductive justice for all women in Belgium.
ISSN:0778-7367
2049-3258
2049-3258
DOI:10.1186/s13690-024-01418-x