Induced abortion: Decision and need for medical information

Abstract

This study gives attention to the preabortion encounter: to what extent medical information was provided and to what extent professional health workers took part in the decision-making process concerning abortion. During the first half year of 1983, 405 women demanding abortion at the Gynecological Department, University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway were interviewed. Ninety-five per cent of the women had a preabortion visit at a physician's office. Nearly 44 % of the women were informed about the surgical procedure, while only 26 % of the women were informed about the possible medical risks. Upon arrival at the hospital to have the abortion carried out 53 % of the women wanted information about the surgical procedures, while 72 % wanted information about possible medical complications related to the intervention. Fifty-six per cent of the women decided on abortion themselves. Seventy-six per cent (304/405) of the women had discussed termination of the pregnancy with their partners. Of these women 54 % (164/304) decided on abortion together with their partners. Married women and cohabitants decided more often together with their partners than women living alone did (p<0.01). Only seven per cent of the women who had a preabortion visit discussed the abortion decision with their physician, while less than one per cent of the women decided on abortion during consultation with their physician. At the time of conception over 70 % of the women were not using any contraceptives. Among those women who became pregnant as a result of contraceptive failure, significantly more women were either married or cohabitants. The majority of the abortion-seeking women had a pre-abortion visit with a general practitioner. Information on procedures at the hospital and possible medical risks related to the intervention should be provided at the preabortion visit without request from the woman. The primary health care has the possibility for continuing support, therefore primary health care is the place for family planning discussion, pre-post abortion counseling. © 1986 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.