Logo image
Back
The impact of abortion doulas on women and providers outcomes: An integrative review of the evidence
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The impact of abortion doulas on women and providers outcomes: An integrative review of the evidence

Elaine Jefford, Julia Marsden and Lyn Ebert
Sexual & reproductive healthcare, Vol.37, 100888
09/2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100888
pdf
The impact of abortion doulas on women and providers’ outcomes: An integrative review of the evidence940.75 kBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open Access
url
The impact of abortion doulas on women and providers’ outcomes: An integrative review of the evidenceView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Related links

Metrics

25 File views/ downloads
40 Record Views
1 Times Cited - Web of Science

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

Source: InCites

Abstract

Abortion care Doula support Doulas Perinatal loss Review
The aim of this integrative review is to map the literature on the impact of abortion doulas on women and abortion care providers. This review followed a modified Whittemore and Knafl framework and PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Proquest, EMBASE, and PsycINFO) were searched using key terms: abortion and doula. Search was limited by date (2012–2022), type (primary research only), and language (English only). Of the 99 papers found, only 4 met inclusion criteria. The four papers – drawn from 2 studies – were analysed using NICE Appraisal checklists. In total, data from 328 participants (n = 314 women, n = 5 physicians, n = 5 staff members, n = 4 abortion doulas) was analysed. Of the 314 women, 160 women received doula support and 154 did not. Two qualitative papers showed women and abortion providers reported a beneficial impact of abortion doulas, but the two quantitative (RCTs) papers showed null impact for a doula support intervention vs. usual care on women’s physical and psychological outcomes. Women reported wanting support during the abortion; however, the evidence is not yet clear on whether a doula is required to address this need for women undergoing a surgical abortion in clinic. It may be that abortion support is important in ways that are difficult to measure.

Details

Logo image