Information for participants (users)

As more people access information about self-managed abortions via digital platforms and social media, it is important to examine the interaction between reproductive rights and the digital environment. The aim of this project is to investigate how civil society organisations focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and safe abortions use digital platforms and social media to disseminate information about self-managed abortions in India, and how users of these platforms and social media channels navigate digital spaces to seek information about self-managed abortions.

One part of the project involves interviews with individuals who have used digital materials about self-managed abortions to either perform an abortion themselves or assist someone else. You are being asked to participate in this project because you belong to this group.

The entity responsible for the research is Uppsala University. The research has been approved by the Ethics Review Authority, with the approval reference number (Dnr 2024-07529-01).

The study is based on interviews with individuals who have used digital materials about self-managed abortions to either perform an abortion themselves or assist someone else. We are inviting you to participate in an interview, where you can share your thoughts on this topic.

The interview will be conducted either in person at an agreed-upon location or digitally via Zoom. The interview will be audio-recorded. Participation in the study is not compensated.

Participation does not involve any physical risks; however, the study may touch on sensitive topics. If you feel discomfort during the discussion, you can choose to stop, take a break, or refrain from answering specific questions. If needed, we can refer you to counselling support.

Another risk is a potential breach of privacy. To minimise this risk, we will handle your information confidentially. Audio recordings of the interview will be transcribed (written down verbatim), and any names mentioned will be replaced with pseudonyms. Your name or any information that could reveal your identity will not be included when we present our research results.

The project will collect and record information about you. During the interview, you will describe your thoughts on the creation of digital materials about self-managed abortions and your experience in finding information on self-managed abortions via digital platforms. We handle your personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Audio recordings will be deleted once the project concludes. Other materials will be stored for 10 years in the university archives.

Your responses and results will be pseudonymized and personal data collected during interviews (e.g. age, gender identity, ethnicity) will be separated from other interview data and stored in a codebook to which only the researcher has access and unauthorised individuals cannot access them.

The data controller for your personal information is Uppsala University. According to the EU General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access the data about you that is processed in the project and, if necessary, have any errors corrected. You may also request that your data be deleted or that its processing be restricted. However, the right to deletion and restriction does not apply when the data is necessary for the research in question.

If you wish to access your data, please contact the principal investigator, Jenny Björklund (contact details below). The university's Data Protection Officer can be reached at dataskyddsombud@uu.se. If you are dissatisfied with how your personal data is handled, you have the right to file a complaint with the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection, which oversees compliance.

The results will be published in a doctoral dissertation, in scientific articles, at academic conferences, in popular science journals, and in public lectures. Your identity will never be disclosed in any publication or presentation. You can decide whether you would like to receive the study’s results. If so, you can contact the responsible researchers (contact details below).

Your participation is voluntary, and you can choose to withdraw at any time. If you decide not to participate or wish to withdraw, you do not need to provide a reason. If you wish to withdraw your participation, please contact the project team (see contact details below).