Abortion

Having an abortion is not uncommon. Approximately 200,000 abortions take place in England and Wales every year.

Despite these facts, ending a pregnancy remains controversial and stigmatised. It is a topic often shrouded in secrecy and silence and can be difficult to talk about. This can result in people feeling isolated and a sense of shame.

It is highly likely that some young people you work with will have been affected by abortion or will be in the future. This course will leave you with the knowledge, confidence and skills to have honest conversations about abortion with young people. It will help you to understand the realities, separate facts from myths and challenge stigma.

LEarning objectives

By the end of this course you will:

• Understand the facts, law and rights surrounding abortion
• Support empathetic, critical thinking and informed decision-making
• Reflect on the beliefs and influences that shape attitudes to abortion
• Deliver engaging, age-appropriate learning activities with confidence

Please note this course was last updated in 2019, there may be out of date content and it may be less accessible than our other courses.

This online course was developed as part of a joint project with the Open University and the videos that feature in this online course were developed as part of the My Body, My Life project which was based on Open University (OU) research into women’s experiences of abortion. This course also draws from materials developed as part of the Education for Choice project.