Level of male participation when unwanted
pregnancy is terminated from the perspective of
Thai healthcare providers
Chatchawet, W; Sompron, J; Kritcharoen, S
Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
When unwanted pregnancy occurs and ends with termination,
women usually take responsibility for the consequences due to
such unsafe termination of pregnancy (TOP) but men typically do
not have to participate in taking care of women. This qualitative
study aims to understand the perspective of healthcare providers
from the viewpoint of male participation when an unwanted
pregnancy is terminated. The thirteen participants consisted of ten
professional nurses, two physicians and one social worker with
exerience in taking care of women who were undergoing
unwanted pregnancy termination. Individual interviews were
conducted. Data analysis was carried out through content analysis.
Member checking was conducted to establish the rigour of the
study
The level of male participation when unwanted pregnancy is
terminated from the perspective of healthcare providers was found
to be ‘taking care together’ because of mutual sex, men conduct,
or women hurt and ‘women taking care of themselves’ due to
male privilege or female surrender. ‘Different aspects on
termination of unwanted pregnancy’ such as understanding the
woman’s reason or prejudice from not listening to a woman’s
voice, affect the level of male participation.
The findings of the study help to improve the understanding
about male participation that is influenced by gender bias.
Encouraging men to participate in taking care of women without
gender bias will enhance reproductive health care to transform a
women-only framework to gender equity among women and men.