Abortion beyond 13 weeks in Argentina: healthcare seeking experiences during self-managed abortion accompanied by the Socorristas en Red.

Before 2021, Argentina's laws prohibited abortion except in limited circumstances. A feminist activist group, the Socorristas en Red, provided information and support to people seeking abortion services, including those beyond 13 weeks gestation. Recently-released WHO guidelines for abortion care acknowledge that abortion trajectories vary and people may seek services and support from a range of settings in the process of a single abortion (World Health Organization, 2022). It follows, therefore, that people who self manage abortions beyond 13 weeks with the support of accompaniment groups may interact with health professionals in the public and/or private sector. Understanding reasons for and experiences with these interactions can help improve quality of abortion care and inform best practice. We conducted interviews with people who used medications for abortion in the second trimester supported by the Socorristas and analyzed their stories about abortion-related healthcare. Participants in our study sought healthcare services in clinics at various timepoints: many visited providers when first considering abortion, and most went to providers for post-abortion care. Some providers admonished their patients for seeking abortion services, while others provided referrals to the Socorristas. Many participants were concerned about their legal safety, and feared prosecution when they received healthcare services, especially if seeking care after the abortion. In these instances, some participants experienced poor quality or inappropriate care because they did not feel safe sharing that they had taken medications for abortion, and others were treated poorly because of the abortion. The experiences of those who sought services from health professionals who had established relationships with the Socorristas appeared to be more positive than the others. This study illuminates the important role that supportive health professionals can play to ensure that, regardless of the trajectory of an abortion, people feel comfortable accessing clinical services during the course of an abortion, even in restrictive settings, and how feminist activists can help to ensure providers are empathic and provide supportive care to all those who have abortions.