Self-Managed Abortion: Strategies for Support by a Global Feminist Movement

Since the early 2000s, global networks of feminist activists have provided education about and support with self-managed abortion to women with unwanted pregnancies in contexts where abortion is highly restricted. Study participants were recruited through chain referral, and in-depth qualitative interviews were done with 68 activists across 17 countries. Activists described four direct action strategies commonly in use globally: telephone hotlines that provide information about medication abortion, supportive accompaniment of women through the use of medication at home, websites with information about the safe use of medication, and community health education workers who include abortion within sexual health education.