Women in face of abortion: an experience-based approach

Abstract

This work aims at revealing the meaning of abortion in the view of women who have experienced it. For this purpose, the author used the Methodology of Phenomenological Investigation, which enabled a comprehensive analysis of the accounts collected. Data were gathered by interviewing twelve hospitalized women. The following questions were used: "What's the meaning of this experience to you? Can you describe it to me? The convergence of their accounts was analyzed and this enabled the creation of thematic categories. Such categories point out the essence of these women's experience and may provide guidelines for the development of assistance policies that would meet their specific needs. The results enlighten important aspects associated with sadness, loss, physiological and existential pain, loneliness, hospitalization discomfort, guilt or fear of being considered guilty, concern with their bodies and the intentionality of their consciences beginning to give importance to contraceptive methods. Their desire to review their own life projects also emerges.