Domestic Violence Awareness Month
November is Domestic Violence Awareness month in Canada and we know that women, girls and gender-diverse people are at the highest risk of gender-based violence. According to Stats Canada over 4 in 10 women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Additional discrimination causes higher risk for women with disabilities, indigenous women, racialized women, trans and non-binary people, sex workers and homeless or underhoused women. November 25th is also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and as abortion providers, we are cognisant that providing trauma-informed abortion care is vital to ensuring bodily autonomy. (We also invite you to read some of our reflections on how abortion may at times be used to violently undermine this autonomy, in cases of forced sterilizations).
Although Canadian statistics are lacking in regards to sexual violence as it pertains to pregnancy and abortion care, *globally 14-25% of those who had an abortion have experienced domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV) in the last year. We have witnessed through our work that abortion care may provide agency for clients by removing emotional ties to an abuser, preventing life stressors and in some cases, managing a miscarriage.
Abuse can be a barrier to abortion care if someone’s movement, bodily autonomy and reproductive choices are being controlled by someone else. According to the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault, instances of domestic and sexual violence rose since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and we have witnessed women and gender diverse people struggle with accessing abortion care, especially when those they live with control or oppose their reproductive choices.
During COVID lockdowns it was harder for people seeking abortion services to find excuses to leave their residences for longer periods of time. During this time our clinic implemented the virtual medication abortion option to expand access to people up to 10 weeks pregnant within the Greater Toronto Area. During a virtual medication abortion, clients are screened by a doctor and nurse via video appointment and may have medication mailed to their chosen address or pick it up at our clinic in an unmarked package. This type of abortion care is discrete and accessible for those who may not want their partner or anyone they live with to know they are having an abortion.
With awareness of the impact that domestic and sexual violence can have our clients, Choice in Health offers trauma-informed, client-centered care. By operating our clinical care through these philosophies we invite our clients in active collaboration and support, autonomy and choice to facilitate mindful and empowering abortion care. We strive to offer informed consent, provide all information we can about our services, while acknowledging social and cultural norms that can impact a client’s perspective, and help explore all options without assuming what a client needs or wants.
Staff may check in with clients regarding issues like safety at home, appointment privacy, future communication, transportation access, forensic evidence processes and options for taking home products of conception, to ascertain and establish safety before, during and after an abortion. Post-abortion supports such as phone counselling appointments, take-home self-care guides and referrals for counselling services outside our clinic are also available to clients.
For those who have experienced domestic violence or intimate partner violence and are seeking abortion care, know that you are not alone. We are here to offer you thoughtful care and support through this process.
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We want to thank our healthcare providers, including one of our own nurses, who contributed to the writing of this blog.
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Below is a list of Ontario and GTA based resources available to anyone in need.
*Chamberlain, L., & Levenson,R.,2013