Who do Australian women seek social support from during the reproductive decision-making process?

Abstract

Limited evidence exists about women’s experiences of social support for reproductive decision-making, particularly who women seek social support from during decision-making. Using a concurrent mixed methods approach, this research explored who women aged 25–35 years living in Victoria, Australia, seek social support from during reproductive decision-making. Women seek social support for reproductive decision-making from multiple sources. However, through exploring women’s support seeking for reproductive decision-making, rather than once a reproductive decision had been made, the study highlights the nuanced and contextual nature of support seeking for reproductive decision-making demonstrating support seeking is influenced by: type of reproductive decision; women’s relationships with members of their social network; previous experiences of support seeking for reproductive decisions; expectations of the support they would receive; homophily; and temporality. This research provides important insight into who women seek support from for reproductive decision-making. Understanding this will help inform future social and public health interventions.