The experience of women with abortion during adolescence as demanded by their mothers

Abstract

Objective: to understand the experience of women who induced an abortion during adolescence as demanded by their mothers. Method: qualitative study with a social phenomenology approach conducted in 2010 with three women through interviews with open questions. Results: the participants tried to hide their pregnancies from their mothers and when the mothers found out about the pregnancies they decide to interrupt it, demanding that their daughters have an abortion, which was performed in an unsafe manner, regardless of the adolescents' desire. After the abortion, the adolescents experienced suffering, guilt, and regret for not having fought against their mothers' decisions. These women expect to be autonomous to make their own decisions, take care of their own health and become pregnant again. Conclusion: the study evidenced the decision for an abortion was centered on the adolescents' mothers, a result that deserves to be further explored in future research deepening the relationship established between daughter and mother in the situation of an induced abortion. We suggest the creation of opportunities for the triad of health professional/adolescent/family to dialogue, especially the mother, who in the context of family relations, can help the daughter to safely deal with an early pregnancy and prevent it instead of influencing the adolescent to induce an abortion. Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem 2013 July-Aug.;21(4):899-905.

How, when and where? A systematic review on abortion decision making in legally restricted settings in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean

“…There was no uniform narrative about who a woman tells, gets information from, or involves in her decision-making process. Women most often involved their friends [ 32 , 35 – 37 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 46 – 48 , 50 , 55 , 58 , 62 , 65 , 70 , 71 , 73 ], partners [ 30 , 31 , 34 – 38 , 41 , 46 , 48 , 54 , 64 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 71 , 74 ], and/or family [ 32 , 35 , 36 , 48 , 52 , 61 , 62 , 70 , 72 , 74 ], in the decisions related to how, when, and where to abort. Health providers [ 32 , 61 , 68 ] and strangers or acquaintances [ 43 ], neighbors [ 32 , 62 ], “feminist activists [ 64 ]” or other NGO staff [ 32 ] and abortion ‘brokers’ [ 45 , 51 ] were also consulted, but with less frequency.…”

“…Regardless of the actual method or service they chose, women perceived that their choices were safer if they relied on information from trusted friends [ 32 , 36 , 37 , 40 , 41 , 47 , 48 , 55 , 57 , 62 , 70 ] or people who had previously successfully aborted [ 30 , 38 , 42 , 48 , 62 , 64 , 73 ]. In many cases, involving family members resulted in less safe abortions, especially when it involved unskilled family members as the providers of the abortion method [ 35 , 36 , 56 , 61 , 72 ]. In contrast, one article suggested that a lack of involvement of any friend or family member in the decision-making process, whether a result of preference or social isolation, led to less safe abortions [ 51 ].…”

Psychosocial Experiences of Adolescent Girls and Young Women Subsequent to an Abortion in Sub-saharan Africa and Globally: A Systematic Review

“…Comparing the experiences of AGYW in Africa to other regions, themes around stigma, shame, gender dynamics, and abandonment were prevalent in all regions. Given the diversity of cultures and social contexts both within and outside of Africa, there exist significant underlying differences in psychosocial outcomes among AGYW in high vs. low income settings, countries where abortion is legal vs. restricted or illegal, and rural vs. urban settings; however, the themes of societal and internalized stigma, parental, and partner involvement or lack thereof, and obstacles in timely care were apparent globally (38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(46)(47)(48)(49). The AGYW's abortion experience is contextualized through the prism of influence of her partner(s), parents, and providers, messages she receives through cultural and social norms, and her own resolve to make pragmatic choices for her life.…”

“…AGYW expressed a range of reactions to and emotions surrounding their abortion including confusion, shame, guilt, and fear, but also selfagency and empowerment. Outside of Africa, the context through which an AGYW received an abortion informed their psychosocial outcomes, including parental and partner support, timely access to services, and cultural and internalized stigma around abortion (38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44).…”

Adolescent Experience with Unwanted Pregnancy: A Scoping Review

“…Teenagers choose to perform abortions performed in an unsafe manner. After performing the abortion the teenager experienced remorse and guilt on him (Domingos et al, 2013).…”