Knowledge, Moral Attitude, and Practice of Nursing Students Toward Abortion

Abstract

In 2021, Thailand decriminalized abortions to allow for legal abortions on request up to 12 weeks’ gestation and conditionally up to 20 weeks’ gestation, or in the case of sexual assault, maternal mental or physical harm, or fetal abnormality. We intend to say that healthcare practitioners’ positive attitudes toward abortion will destigmatize abortion for both themselves and their patients. We explored the knowledge, attitudes, and intended practices of nursing students toward safe abortion practices in light of the recent law reform. This was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 4 parts: a demographic information questionnaire; and measures to assess their knowledge, moral attitudes, and intended practice regarding safe abortion care. Questionnaires were sent to 206 nursing students who had completed the Midwifery and Maternal-Newborn Nursing rotation in Bangkok, Thailand. The survey response rate was 90.8%. Mean (standard deviation) knowledge score was 6.72 (1.86) out of 10. Buddhist students were more likely to have a positive attitude toward abortions. Most students intended to practice safe abortions in pregnancies that affect maternal physical or mental health, or in pregnancies that resulted from unlawful sexual contact. Students were more ambivalent toward abortion practices for socioeconomic reasons. Better knowledge of abortion legislation was associated with a more positive attitude toward abortions and safe abortion practice intention. Approximately 1 year after the abortion law reform in Thailand, nursing students had incomplete knowledge of the amendment. Most students were inclined to provide abortion care services for certain conditions.

Knowledge, attitude, and intended practice of abortion among pharmacy students in Thailand after the amendment of the Thai Abortion Law

“…Most participants agreed with the conditional statements about attitudes toward abortion rather than taking a strict pro-choice or pro-life instance. This finding parallels our prior studies conducted among medical and nursing students, which implies that individuals may view abortion more acceptable under certain circumstances [ 26 , 27 ]. Most participants in our study concurred with the conditions previously allowed for legal abortion under Thai laws.…”

Aligning health worker education and learning approaches with population health needs: WHO’s Family Planning and Comprehensive Abortion Care Toolkit for the primary healthcare workforce

“…Limitations in FP and CAC health workforce education, learning and continuing professional development compromise standards 3 4. In many countries, health workers lack the competencies required to deliver quality FP and CAC services 5–18. Globally, despite overwhelming agreement that medical school curricula should include FP and CAC, training in FP has often been found to be inadequate11 and training in CAC is either altogether missing or significantly limited12 13; especially in low-income countries and countries where abortion is heavily restricted 5–7 12.…”

“…3 4 In many countries, health workers lack the competencies required to deliver quality FP and CAC services. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Globally, despite overwhelming agreement that medical school curricula should include FP and CAC, training in FP has often been found to be inadequate 11 and training in CAC is either altogether missing or significantly limited 12 13 ; especially in low-income countries and countries where abortion is heavily restricted. 5-7 12 When abortion care does appear in medical school curricula and postgraduate training, the focus is confined to the legal and ethical aspects of the procedure.…”