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Short-term grief after an elective abortion.

¹University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing, 78229-7951, USA. williamsg@uthscsa.edu

Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing : JOGNN

|April 20, 2001

Summary

Women undergoing elective abortion may experience short-term grief, including loss of control and death anxiety. Factors like perceived pressure and number of prior abortions can influence grief intensity.

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Area of Science:

Psychological impact of medical procedures
Women's health research
Grief and bereavement studies

Background:

Elective abortion is a common procedure.
The psychological sequelae of abortion require further investigation.
Understanding short-term grief responses is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify and characterize the short-term grief response following elective abortion.
To compare grief experiences between women with and without a history of abortion.

Main Methods:

A descriptive, comparative study was conducted.
Ninety-three women participated: 45 with a history of elective abortion and 48 who had never had an abortion.
Instruments assessing grief were administered in a women's health clinic.

Main Results:

Women with a history of elective abortion reported grief related to loss of control, death anxiety, and dependency.
No statistically significant differences in grief intensity were found between groups, but a trend toward higher intensity in the abortion group was observed.
Factors such as the presence of living children, perceived pressure, and abortion history influenced grief intensity.

Conclusions:

Elective abortion has the potential to trigger a short-term grief response.
Further research is needed to identify women at higher risk for adverse grief reactions.
Acknowledging and addressing this grief response with appropriate interventions is recommended.

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