Profile of an abortion counselor

The definition of who an abortion counselor is and what their training should be is very unclear. In 1973, 350 questionnaires were sent to 60 institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area that provided health care to women with the purpose of clarifying the definition of an abortion counselor. From this study emerged a profile of 100 people in the San Francisco Bay Area who are currently delivering family planning and abortion counseling services. The results are on the basis of 110 completed questionnaires from planned parenthood centers, abortion clinics, and family planning clinics. Results showed that 1) the counselors were similar to their clients in that they, too, were sexually active and of childbearing age, and 1/5 of them had had abortio ns themselves which was a factor in motivating them to enter the field of abortion counseling in the first place; 2) there was a wide variation in the educational and experiential backgrounds of the counselors; 3) 1/3 of the respondents were volunteers; and 4) 47% had completed a training course by Planned Parenthood/World Population. Initial training as well as on the job training was considered to be important by the counselors. During the day, they were occupied were interviewing, group and individual counseling, telephone counseling, and clerical work. They mostly dealt with their patients on a personal, informal level. Counselors complained of crowded conditions, lack of sufficient personnel, and poor follow-up. The author concludes that there is yet to be a definition of who an abortion counselor is, and asserts that if quality care is to be provided, established standards and quality training is needed.