Abstract
In order to examine the decision process and psychological change associated with electing to undergo an induced abortion, 40 women who had experienced abortion were studied. The main findings were as follows : (1) When participants found they were pregnant, they reported experiencing confusion, acceptance, sadness, surprise, continuity, and shame (in descending order of responses). (2) Single women had more difficulty in making a decision than married participants. (3) Participants expressed sadness, regret, guilt, and a feeling they had committed murder on their unborn babies. (4) Twenty-one participants consulted only their partner or mother, whereas the others consulted a number of people, such as partners, siblings, and/or friends. (5) There were two modes of decision-making about an abortion : voluntary type (making one's own decision and then informing others) and consulting type (consulting someone else in order to come to a decision). (6) The factors considered when deciding on an abortion were a financial problems, relationship with the partner, attending school, mother's age, and responsibility of being pregnant. (7) Participants reported feelings of giving up, determination, self-examination, relief, regret, hardship, and guilt towards having an abortion. (8) Medical professionals did not act as counselors in the decision-making process. These findings indicate that nurses need to offer psychological support to women who are faced with making a decision about whether to have an abortion.
