A Manx postgraduate student is inviting male residents to participate in her research into attitudes to and roles in abortions.

Sarah Breed, 22, from Pooilvaaish, is conducting her research as part of her master’s degree in public health at the University of Nottingham.

The study is titled ’The omitted: A qualitative exploration of men’s perspective of abortion and their perceived roles’. It follows on from her similar research into the female perspective during her degree, which she completed at University College Isle of Man (UCM) through the University of Chester.

Miss Breed told The Manx Independent: ’Males often get a bad press in abortion debates and many women don’t see it as the male’s right to have an opinion. Therefore, many men exclude themselves from the debate both personally and publicly.’

But she notes: ’Most women that have an abortion have a stable partner who the decision will affect, more males are accessing abortion counselling and males have no legal rights in an abortion decision but have to pay child support if the woman continues the pregnancy.’

Miss Breed is following a similar formula she used in her research last year, which looked at women’s views on abortion. She received 337 responses to the online survey and sat with 13 women for three focus groups.

Now she is looking for men, aged at least 18 and permanent island residents who have an opinion they wish to share on abortion. She said: ’All opinions are welcome and the more the better’.

Miss Breed also offered her opinion on the current debate: ’I think the subject of abortion is very difficult as there are many influences that make up someone’s personal decision to have an abortion and many circumstances which are far too complicated to make a black and white judgement.

’Men’s place in the abortion debate is very undefined and that is why I am very excited to explore this in my research.’

She added: ’I think that abortion is a very sensitive topic for many therefore I applaud the way the island has managed to raise awareness of the potential law change but remain respectful. Both campaign groups CALM and HEAR are equally important in voicing valid opinions and I would like to thank them both for their help in my past and current research.’

Complete the survey online at http://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/UlvAdp.

Focus groups will be held at UCM until June. Anyone interested should email [email protected].

The Abortion Reform Bill returns to the House of Keys next Tuesday, April 24 when an attempt is expected to be made to remove ’social well-being’ from the definition of health in the bill. There will also be bids for new definitions of ’serious impairment’ and ’serious social grounds’, to apply to already approved provision for when abortions can take place at 15-24 weeks and emergency late abortions.