New Zealand College of Sexual & Reproductive Health

Abortion Training

Module 1: Consultation – communication and decision making

1. Learning objectives and module overview

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will:

  1. Be informed about current abortion legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand, patient rights and the professional regulations and guidelines prepared for abortion providers
  2. Have explored and considered means of providing effective patient-centred care as an abortion provider in Aoteoroa New Zealand; ensuring people are treated in a culturally safe manner, with dignity and respect, and are partners in the decision-making process
  3. Be able to establish the gestation and location of pregnancies and determine any factors that may impact on the choice of abortion method
  4. Be prepared to communicate effectively with people requesting abortion, including rangatahi (youth), Māori, Pacific, disabled people, diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics people (SOGIESC) and whānau members, about pregnancy options including abortion procedures and the abortion process as well as contraception options.

Module overview

This module is made up of four parts:

  1. The first provides an outline of abortion law in Aotearoa New Zealand, patient rights and the professional standards and guidelines prepared for abortion providers, and the use of telehealth in the abortion setting. Making a decision about an unintended pregnancy, and the abortion process itself, may be a distressing and difficult experience for the pregnant person. It is very important that healthcare providers meet their obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer’s Rights to ensure that people are treated in a culturally safe manner, with respect and dignity, effective communication, and as partners in the decision-making process.
  2. The communication section in this module provides a brief outline of tikanga in abortion care, cultural safety considerations and issues in abortion care for people with disabilities
  3. The third section of this module provides details of the pre-abortion assessment, which includes taking a detailed medical history and determining the gestational age
  4. The final part of this module outlines the shared decision-making process; for the pregnancy outcome, abortion options and sexually transmitted infections (STI) screening and contraception decisions

Made with by the bpacnz team

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