Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature

Maggie Kirkman; Heather Rowe; Annarella Hardiman; Shelley Mallett; Doreen Rosenthal

Journal article

Reasons women give for abortion: a review of the literature

Maggie Kirkman, Heather Rowe, Annarella Hardiman, Shelley Mallett, Doreen Rosenthal

ARCHIVES OF WOMENS MENTAL HEALTH | SPRINGER WIEN | Published : 2009

DOI: 10.1007/s00737-009-0084-3

Abstract

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..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Shelley Mallett Author Social and Political Sciences

Doreen A. Rosenthal Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Related Projects (1)

Understanding women's experiences of unplanned pregnancy and abortion

The economic, health and social costs to the Australian community of unplanned pregnancies and abortions constitute a public health concern ..

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding 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.