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Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature

• Review Article
• Published: 11 June 2009
• Volume 12 , pages 365–378, ( 2009 )

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• Maggie Kirkman 1 ,
• Heather Rowe 1 ,
• Annarella Hardiman 2 ,
• Shelley Mallett 1 &
• Doreen Rosenthal 1  

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The aim was to identify from empirical research that used quantitative or qualitative methods the reasons women give for having an abortion. A search was conducted of peer-reviewed, English language publications indexed in eight computerized databases with publication date 1996–2008, using keywords ‘abortion’ and ‘reason’ (Medline: ‘induced abortion’ OR ‘termination of pregnancy’ OR ‘elective abortion’ and ‘reason’). Inclusion criteria were empirical research on humans that identified women’s reasons for undergoing an abortion, conducted in ‘high-income’ countries. 19 eligible papers were found. Despite variation in methods of generating, collecting, and analysing reasons, and the inadequacy of methodological detail in some papers, all contributed to a consistent picture of the reasons women give for having an abortion, with three main categories (‘Woman-focused’, ‘Other-focused’, and ‘Material’) identified. Ambivalence was often evident in women’s awareness of reasons for continuing the pregnancy, but abortion was chosen because continuing with the pregnancy was assessed as having adverse effects on the life of the woman and significant others. Women’s reasons were complex and contingent, taking into account their own needs, a sense of responsibility to existing children and the potential child, and the contribution of significant others, including the genetic father.

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Acknowledgements

This review was made possible through funding by the Australian Research Council (grant # LP0667968) and the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. We thank Patrick Condron of the Baillieu Library, the University of Melbourne, for his assistance with the comprehensive literature search.

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Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, The Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 3010

Maggie Kirkman, Heather Rowe, Shelley Mallett & Doreen Rosenthal

Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Annarella Hardiman

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Correspondence to Maggie Kirkman .

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Kirkman, M., Rowe, H., Hardiman, A. et al. Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature. Arch Womens Ment Health 12 , 365–378 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0084-3

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Received : 03 April 2009

Accepted : 28 May 2009

Published : 11 June 2009

Issue Date : December 2009

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0084-3

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