Psychological ill-being experienced by first-time mothers and their partners in pregnancy after abortion: a cohort study.
The psychological effects of abortion have been much discussed lately, with recently published studies indicating that induced abortion (IA) may, contrary to the general consensus, be contributing to psychological symptoms post-abortion. Using a cohort of first-time mothers, we assessed the likelihood of them experiencing psychological ill-being at the midpoint of their pregnancy, depending on their IA history. We also examined the psychological symptoms of their partners, the hypothesis being that ill-being in IA-experienced mothers might reflect onto their partners. Altogether 680 future first-time mothers (9.8% of whom had an IA history) and their partners were selected. Most mothers attended their 16 check-ups at maternity health clinics (MHC), where the family's physical and emotional well-being were checked. Several internationally validated questionnaires, which gauged psychological ill-being, were filled in at the 20th week of pregnancy. There were no significant differences between the study and the control group in terms of psychological ill-being during the pregnancy. The contribution of prior IA to psychological ill-being during the next pregnancy seems to be minimal. The availability of IA procedures, intensive MHC services in Finland, as well as this society's neutral attitude towards IA, may be among the reasons why the results are so positive for mothers who have previously undergone one or more IAs.
Department of Public Health, University of Turku , Turku , Finland .
Susanna
S
Holmlund
Anne
A
Kaljonen
Niina
N
Junttila
Hannele
H
Räihä
Juha
J
Mäkinen
Päivi
P
Rautava
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017584:Reproductive History; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
First-time mother; induced abortion; mental health; pregnancy; psychological well-being