Saúde sexual e reprodutiva e saúde mental

: follow-up 1 ano após a realização de uma interrupção voluntária da gravidez

Abstract

The present study's main objectives are to understand the experience of a Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy (IVG) one year after its completion and the personal perception of its actual impact on mental and sexual health and intimate relationships. The methodological orientation proposed here is a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews via telephone. The study includes six women who had an abortion a year ago, recruited through the Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, from a hospital in the metropolitan area of Porto, Portugal. After the transcript of the interviews, the content was analysed with the support of NVIVO 9.0 software. From the semi-inductive analysis five major themes emerged: Impact of the Abortion Experience, Social Support, Family Planning, Abortion Process and Importance of Abortion Research. The results showed that the impact of abortion on mental health focuses on the temporary manifestation of negative and positive emotional reactions, without reports of psychological counselling, psychiatric medication or significant changes in substance use after the abortion. All women have attended to the family planning counselling and they all changed their attitude and behaviour related to contraception. After the experience of an abortion, women tend to develop or maintain a favourable opinion about the women’s right to choose an abortion, although there is an increased sensitivity related to the difficulty involved in the process. In regards to the impact of the interpersonal relationships and social support on adjustment to abortion, there are positive and negative responses. However, it depends on the perceived support. Generally speaking, one year after the abortion, women say that they coped well with the experience.

Date of Award	2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Raul Xavier (Supervisor)