Involvement and Engagement Practices in Abortion Care – Systems Map (Knowledge Artefact)

Abstract

This systems map and corresponding observations were developed during the workshop Engagement and Involvement Practices in Abortion Care: Collectively Envisioning Futures, hosted in July 2024 by Nicola Boydell from the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society. The event was facilitated by AndThen and funded by The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute. Participants collaborated to map the abortion care landscape, identifying key stakeholders and their interrelationships. Each group produced a unique map, and this systems map (or "knowledge artefact") synthesises our collective insights and ideas. While there is substantial evidence on best practices for involvement and engagement, the abortion landscape is unique and abortion care presents specific complexities. It is crucial to account for these dynamics when structuring interactions with patients, publics and other stakeholders such as community advocacy groups, healthcare providers and policymakers. This systems map, along with observations on what makes engagement in abortion care distinctive and the linked workshop report [https://doi.org/10.7488/era/cbss-2025-001], offers prompts, ideas and provocations for designing involvement and engagement initiatives within this context.