‘I feel abortion is still a taboo subject to talk about’ — abortion in the UK Armed Forces: a cross-sectional survey

• Published in: British journal of general practice Vol. 75; no. suppl 1; p. bjgp25X741585
• Main Authors: Kinkaid, Victoria, Guest, Ruth, Willman, Antony, King, Kate
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.05.2025
• Subjects: Abortion, Induced - psychology; Abortion, Induced - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Middle Aged; Military Personnel - psychology; Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Pregnancy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taboo; United Kingdom - epidemiology; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 0960-1643; 1478-5242
• DOI: 10.3399/bjgp25X741585

Abortion is a common pregnancy outcome; in the UK 1 in 3 women will have an abortion by the age of 45. Despite women making up 11.7% of the UK Armed Forces (AF) there have been countless reports of their gender-specific health needs not being addressed by the UKAF. There is a worldwide absence of literature and policy on abortion-care in the AF, including rates and experiences. This survey addresses the paucity of data on abortion experiences in UK servicewomen to ensure the UKAF is providing the best possible care. A REDCap survey was circulated among UK servicewomen via social media networks, and snowball distribution was encouraged to widen participation. Quantitative data was used for descriptive statistics and qualitative data was analysed iteratively by authors, with regular meetings to agree on themes. 427 servicewomen responded: 29% declared they previously had an abortion, with 78.5% of those being during military service and 11% required while on deployment. Four key themes emerged: 'Trust in information holders', 'Influencers, barriers and access', 'Systemic lack of awareness' and 'Life in the military'. This is the first study to collect data on UK Servicewomen's experience around abortion-care and highlights a complex interplay of factors which may influence abortion-care decisions. Stigma and judgement were pervasive threads running through all themes, negatively impacting UKAF women. Evidence-based policies and information on abortion are recommended for both servicepeople and healthcare professionals to facilitate access to abortion and begin to destigmatise it in the AF.