Understanding Digitally Mediated Information Seeking Practices for Self-Managed Abortions

This project explores the conceptualisation, design, and strategic development of social media platforms and websites aimed at promoting safe and self-managed abortions (SMA) in India. The focus is specifically on medical abortion (MA) using pills—a method endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO)—which involves the use of Misoprostol alone or in combination with Mifepristone.

The steady increase in the use of medical abortion has enabled safer self-management and self-use, centring autonomy, privacy and confidentiality, while also contributing to the reduction of abortion-related morbidity and mortality globally.

Increasingly, information related to self-managing abortions through the use of medical abortion pills is being disseminated via social media platforms and websites. As digital platforms increasingly become essential spaces for seeking information on self-managed abortion, it is crucial to explore the intersection of reproductive rights and the digital landscape.

The study investigates how digital platforms and social media in the Indian context both facilitate and regulate access to self-managed abortion. By analysing these dynamics, it provides valuable insights into the role of digital spaces in shaping reproductive rights and autonomy. Additionally, the project examines how these platforms either challenge or reinforce existing inequalities in access to abortion, offering a nuanced understanding of their impact on reproductive justice.