Experiences of abortion: A narrative review of qualitative studies

Mabel LS Lie¹ , Stephen C Robson² and Carl R May³

¹Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, William Leech Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

²School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences, Newcastle University, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

³Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, 21 Claremont Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK

author email corresponding author email

BMC Health Services Research 2008, 8:150doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-150


Published:	17 July 2008

Abstract

Background

Although abortion or termination of pregnancy (TOP) has become an increasingly normalized component of women's health care over the past forty years, insufficient attention has been paid to women's experiences of surgical or medical methods of TOP.

Objective

To undertake a narrative review of qualitative studies of women's experiences of TOP and their perspectives on surgical or medical methods.

Methods

Keyword searches of Medline, CINAHL, ISI, and IBSS databases. Manual searches of other relevant journals and reference lists of primary articles.

Results

Qualitative studies (n = 18) on women's experiences of abortion were identified. Analysis of the results of studies reviewed revealed three main themes: experiential factors that promote or inhibit the choice to seek TOP; experiences of TOP; and experiential aspects of the environment in which TOP takes place.

Conclusion

Women's choices about TOP are mainly pragmatic ones that are related to negotiating finite personal and family and emotional resources. Women who are well informed and supported in their choices experience good psychosocial outcomes from TOP. Home TOP using mifepristone appears attractive to women who are concerned about professionals' negative attitudes and lack of privacy in formal healthcare settings but also leads to concerns about management and safety.