Recent legislation has sought to clarify abortion law in Ireland, allowing abortion where the pregnancy endangers a woman’s life, including through risk of suicide. Existing literature studies have shown that medical students’ attitudes towards abortion can predict their likelihood to provide abortion care services in the future.
Researchers did this study to survey GEM and undergraduate-entry medical students in Ireland on their attitudes to abortion in light of recent legislation changes.
Students completed an 18-item anonymous questionnaire, measuring knowledge and attitudes regarding abortion and current Irish abortion law.
Results Of five hundred and twenty-five respondents, ninety-two percent indicated that abortion was justified in specific circumstances. 56.6% expressed a willingness to perform a legal abortion in their future practice. GEM students were more likely than DEM students to support abortion services across each of the clinical scenarios.
The study concluded that most students, regardless of the mode of entry, believed abortion was justified where there was a real risk to the mother’s life (including the risk of suicide) or in cases of fetal non-viability. The most significant determinant of students’ beliefs was religious adherence.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/42/3/201
