Abortion and maternity

Abstract

More than half of the abortions in the Netherlands take place in mothers. Motherhood might complicate the decision-making process, because mothers may have stronger maternal feelings; but mothers may also find the decision easier, because they know the impact having a child has on their lives. The purpose of this study was to test these contrasting hypotheses. First, mothers were compared to nulliparae on perceived doubt, emotional burden of the unwanted pregnancy and abortion, and positive and negative emotions after abortion. Second, the number and type of reasons for abortion of these groups were examined both quantitatively and qualitatively. The study was based on the first measurement of the Dutch Abortion and Mental Health Study (DAMHS), a five-year prospective cohort study (n=325). Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews. Regression models were used to test the hypotheses, controlling for age, education level, having a partner, and living situation. Compared to nulliparae, mothers reported more often that they did not want children (anymore). Nulliparae also gave significantly more reasons than mothers. Although motherhood seems to influence the reasons mothers have for terminating the unwanted pregnancy, this is not the case for the intensity or emotional burden of the decision making process. Thus, the results do not suggest that mothers specifically need additional support in the decision-making process.