H Söderberg1, L Janzon, N O Sjöberg. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study incidence and determinants of emotional distress following induced abortion. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lund University, University Hospital Malmö, Sweden. SUBJECTS: A series of 854 participants at 12-month postabortion follow-up, representing 66.5% of the 1285 women undergoing induced abortion at Malmö, 1989. METHODS: Analysis of data elicited at a semistructured interview 1 year after induced abortion, risk factors for emotional distress being determined in a "case" subgroup (n = 139) of women satisfying all the inclusion criteria (i.e., postabortion emotional distress, doubts about abortion decision, would not consider abortion again), as compared with a control group (n = 114) satisfying none of the inclusion criteria. The study design is a retrospective study. RESULTS: In the subgroup with emotional distress (duration ranging from 1 month to still present at 12-month follow-up), the following risk factors were identified: living alone, poor emotional support from family and friends, adverse postabortion change in relations with partner, underlying ambivalence or adverse attitude to abortion, and being actively religious. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, 50-60% of women undergoing induced abortion experienced some measure of emotional distress, classified as severe in 30% of cases. The risk factors identified suggest that it may be possible to ameliorate or even prevent such distress.
OBJECTIVE: To study incidence and determinants of emotional distress following induced abortion. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lund University, University Hospital Malmö, Sweden. SUBJECTS: A series of 854 participants at 12-month postabortion follow-up, representing 66.5% of the 1285 women undergoing induced abortion at Malmö, 1989. METHODS: Analysis of data elicited at a semistructured interview 1 year after induced abortion, risk factors for emotional distress being determined in a "case" subgroup (n = 139) of women satisfying all the inclusion criteria (i.e., postabortion emotional distress, doubts about abortion decision, would not consider abortion again), as compared with a control group (n = 114) satisfying none of the inclusion criteria. The study design is a retrospective study. RESULTS: In the subgroup with emotional distress (duration ranging from 1 month to still present at 12-month follow-up), the following risk factors were identified: living alone, poor emotional support from family and friends, adverse postabortion change in relations with partner, underlying ambivalence or adverse attitude to abortion, and being actively religious. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, 50-60% of women undergoing induced abortion experienced some measure of emotional distress, classified as severe in 30% of cases. The risk factors identified suggest that it may be possible to ameliorate or even prevent such distress.
Authors: David C Reardon; Jesse R Cougle; Vincent M Rue; Martha W Shuping; Priscilla K Coleman; Philip G Ney Journal: CMAJ Date: 2003-05-13 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Corinne H Rocca; Katrina Kimport; Sarah C M Roberts; Heather Gould; John Neuhaus; Diana G Foster Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-07-08 Impact factor: 3.240