Experiences of abortion care in Australia: a qualitative study examining multiple dimensions of access

Abortion seekers experienced varying obstacles when seeking care. The findings illustrate the need for population- and system-level initiatives such as: providing accurate information about and normalising abortion; implementing system-level strategies to reduce wait times, travel, and costs, especially for rural populations; and developing regulatory and quality improvement initiatives to increase the workforce and its readiness to provide high-quality, non-judgemental abortion care. Challenges seeking care during pandemic restrictions illustrate the importance of social support during care and choice between abortion modalities and service types. Consumer voices can help understand the diverse pathways to abortion care and inform solutions to overcome the multidimensional barriers to access.