Table 2 Summary of study characteristics: general experiences of TOP
From: Experiences of abortion: A narrative review of qualitative studies
Author & Date | Title of article | Country | Sample characteristics | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Harden & Ogden 1999 [19] | Young women's experiences of arranging and having abortions | U.K. | n = 54 Age: 16–24. NHS and private patients. | Recruitment from two hospitals and two voluntary sector clinics Interview duration: 10–60 mins Timing: Interviews between 1–3 hours after their abortion |
Tornbom & Moller 1999 [20] | Repeat abortion: a qualitative study | Sweden | n = 20 Age: 20–29 Women who had had between 1–5 abortions in the past 5 years. | Convenience sampling of women seeking abortion at a family planning unit. Duration: one and a half to two hours |
McIntyre et al 2001 [21] | The Intersection of Relational and Cultural Narratives: Women's Abortion Experiences | Canada | n = 14 Age: 19–44 Wide range of social backgrounds. All Canadian-born, English-speaking and White. | In-depth interviews with women who had had an abortion were recruited from posters in one clinic and letters in handouts from another clinic |
Bennett 2001 [22] | Single women's experiences of premarital pregnancy and induced abortion in Lombok, Indonesia | Indonesia | n= 116 Age: 16–25 Single mostly Muslim women from a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds | In-depth interviews (n = 35) Life story accounts (n = 15) Interviews with abortion providers (n = 8) 8 focus groups followed by workshops (n = 58 participants) Participation observation. |
Remennick & Segal 2001 [23] | Socio-cultural context and women's experiences of abortion: Israeli women and Russian immigrants compared | Israel | n = 23 Israeli women n = 25 Russian immigrants Age: 20 or more. Immigrants: typically less fortunate and poorly integrated, Israeli women: a mix of middle-class and less advantaged. | Recruited at abortion clinics and through the Israeli FPA counselling services. Interviewed using semi-structured thematic guide Timing: within 3 months of surgical TOP. |
Andrews & Boyle 2003 [24] | African American Adolescents' Experiences with Unplanned pregnancy and Elective Abortion | U.S. | n = 12 Age: 15–18 African American | Recruited through a non-profit family planning and abortion clinic. Focused ethnographic study. Interview duration: 1 to 1 1/2 hours Timing: On day of TOP followed by 2nd and 3rd interviews 6–8 months later 27 interviews in total. Data analysis triangulated with field notes, informal interviews and participation observation. |
Fielding et al 2004 [25] | Social Context and the Experience of a Sample of U.S. Women Taking RU-486 (Mifepristone) for Early Abortion | U.S. | n = 35 Around 3/4 were white with some college education, and 85% were employed. | Recruited from a clinical trial site In-depth interviews, majority by telephone Duration: 30 minutes Timing: 1–6 weeks following their clinical follow-up visit |
Alex and Hammarström 2004 [26] | Women's experiences in connection with induced abortion – a feminist perspective | Sweden | n = 5 Age: 19–33 Not highly educated | Recruited from one health centre In-depth interviews Duration: 50 – 140 mins | Timing: about one month after TOP |
Kero et al 2004 [27] | Wellbeing and mental growth – long-term effects of legal abortion | Sweden | n = 61 Age: 28 (mean and median) 29 employed, 18 students | Follow-up study from a questionnaire survey in one hospital. Semi-structured telephone interviews Duration: 30–40 mins Timing: 4 months (61 women) and 12 months (58 women) post TOP |
Kumar et al 2004 [28] | Decision making and referral prior to abortion: a qualitative study of women's experiences | U.K. | n = 21 Of varying ages and gestations, 14/21 from an ethnic minority community. | Recruited from three NHS TOP provider units (2 voluntary sector abortion providers). In-depth interviews Duration:1–2 hrs Timing: 3–9 weeks after TOP |
Lee et al 2004 [29] | A matter of choice? Explaining national variations in teenage abortion and motherhood | U.K. | n = 103 Age: 17 and under at the time of pregnancy, from selected sites in England, Wales and Scotland. | Phase 3 of large national study: intensive interviews with 52 young mothers and 51 young women who experienced TOP, Timing: up to 9 years after event. |
Hallden et al 2005 [30] | Meanings of Being Pregnant and Having Decided on Abortion: Young Swedish Women's Experiences | Sweden | n = 10 Age: 18–20 | Recruited from three clinics in two cities. In-depth interviews Timing: 4–20 days before TOP |
Trybulski 2005 [31] | Women and abortion: The past reaches into the present | U.S. | n = 16 Age: 38–92 European-American women with 12 or more years of education. All had had an abortion 15 years or more previously. | Convenience sampling through flyers in public places, an advertisement in a women's magazine, and through referrals. Interview duration: one and a half to two hours. |
Goodwin & Ogden 2007 [32] | Women's reflections upon their past abortions: An exploration of how and why emotional reactions change over time | U.K. | n = 10 aged 23–31 Of mixed ethnicities Three had a medical abortion. | Recruitment through advertisements in a university. In-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in university premises. Duration: 20–90 minutes Experienced TOP 1–9 years previously. |