Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature |
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Authors: | Maggie Kirkman Heather Rowe Annarella Hardiman Shelley Mallett Doreen Rosenthal |
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Institution: | (1) Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, The Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 3010;(2) Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Abstract: | The aim was to identify from empirical research that used quantitative or qualitative methods the reasons women give for having
an abortion. A search was conducted of peer-reviewed, English language publications indexed in eight computerized databases
with publication date 1996–2008, using keywords ‘abortion’ and ‘reason’ (Medline: ‘induced abortion’ OR ‘termination of pregnancy’
OR ‘elective abortion’ and ‘reason’). Inclusion criteria were empirical research on humans that identified women’s reasons
for undergoing an abortion, conducted in ‘high-income’ countries. 19 eligible papers were found. Despite variation in methods
of generating, collecting, and analysing reasons, and the inadequacy of methodological detail in some papers, all contributed
to a consistent picture of the reasons women give for having an abortion, with three main categories (‘Woman-focused’, ‘Other-focused’,
and ‘Material’) identified. Ambivalence was often evident in women’s awareness of reasons for continuing the pregnancy, but
abortion was chosen because continuing with the pregnancy was assessed as having adverse effects on the life of the woman
and significant others. Women’s reasons were complex and contingent, taking into account their own needs, a sense of responsibility
to existing children and the potential child, and the contribution of significant others, including the genetic father. |
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