Lisa L Littman1, Adam Jacobs2, Rennie Negron2, Tara Shochet3, Marji Gold4, Miriam Cremer5. 1. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1043, New York, NY 10029-5204, USA. Electronic address: LLLittman@yahoo.com. 2. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1043, New York, NY 10029-5204, USA. 3. Consultant, Iowa City, IA. 4. Albert Einstein College of Medicine. 5. University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Misinformation regarding the risks of abortion is prevalent and commonly includes medical inaccuracies about health, depression, infertility and breast cancer. This pilot study sought to assess misinformation among abortion clients as well as the origin(s) of their abortion knowledge. STUDY DESIGN: Women who presented to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Family Planning Division for postabortion follow-up were recruited for participation. Participants completed a researcher-administered survey regarding knowledge and beliefs about abortion. RESULTS: Sixty-seven women completed the survey between 1/11/10 and 8/6/12. Common sources of abortion information included clinicians (79.1%), Web sites (70.1%), friends (50.7%) and family (40.3%). Over two thirds of women (77.6%) overestimated the health risks, and close to half (43.3%) overestimated the risk of depression after a first trimester abortion. CONCLUSIONS: Misperceptions about the health risks of abortion were prevalent among this sample. Education tools should be developed to provide accurate information about the risks of abortion.
BACKGROUND: Misinformation regarding the risks of abortion is prevalent and commonly includes medical inaccuracies about health, depression, infertility and breast cancer. This pilot study sought to assess misinformation among abortion clients as well as the origin(s) of their abortion knowledge. STUDY DESIGN:Women who presented to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Family Planning Division for postabortion follow-up were recruited for participation. Participants completed a researcher-administered survey regarding knowledge and beliefs about abortion. RESULTS: Sixty-seven women completed the survey between 1/11/10 and 8/6/12. Common sources of abortion information included clinicians (79.1%), Web sites (70.1%), friends (50.7%) and family (40.3%). Over two thirds of women (77.6%) overestimated the health risks, and close to half (43.3%) overestimated the risk of depression after a first trimester abortion. CONCLUSIONS: Misperceptions about the health risks of abortion were prevalent among this sample. Education tools should be developed to provide accurate information about the risks of abortion.
Authors: Maggie Kirkman; Carmel Apicella; Jillian Graham; Martha Hickey; John L Hopper; Louise Keogh; Ingrid Winship; Jane Fisher Journal: BMC Womens Health Date: 2017-04-05 Impact factor: 2.809