These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: [Choice of termination of pregnancy. The significance of demographic and social factors].
    Author: Rasmussen NK, Sidenius K, Boesen EM, Pedersen H.
    Journal: Ugeskr Laeger; 1983 Nov 28; 145(48):3758-64. PubMed ID: 6665895.
    Abstract:
    This investigation illustrated the causes and reasons for women's choice of pregnancy termination and various aspects of that decision making process. During a 1-year period (1977-78), 431 women applying for pregnancy termination were interviewed. Simultaneously, 441 pregnant women and 485 representatively chosen women ages 15-49 from the district served by Herlev Hospital were also questioned. Follow-up investigation was undertaken on 231 women applying for the procedure. During the investigation period, 36% of the pregnancies registered (terminations and deliveries) were interrupted by abortion. The proportion of pregnancies interrupted varied greatly depending on demographic characteristics of the women. Most of the women (81.9%) applying for pregnancy termination were either under age 20 or over 34, either unmarried or with no consort or had already had 2 or more children. Only 18.1% of the women applying for pregnancy termination were in situations which statistically fulfilled the necessary conditions for a positive attitude toward the birth of an infant; i.e., to be married or have a partner, to have fewer than 2 children, and to be between 20-35 years. 77.1% of the pregnant women who wanted to carry to term were characterized thus. Women's reasons for selecting termination reflect this pattern accurately. Consideration for profession or education and housing and economic conditions play a lesser role in the choice than the demographic factors already mentioned. The predictive value of the combination of demographic variables is reflected in the assessment of the aspects of the decision making process and the reaction to the intervention. The decision concerning pregnancy termination was most difficult to make by women who are presumed not to be past childbearing. Similarly, they more frequently developed negative reactions to the intervention than did women who are presumed to be past childbearing. (author's modified)
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]