Lucija Pavse
Speeches:
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Psychological adjustment following induced abortion for fetal abnormality
Lucija Pavse1, Vislava Globevnik Velikonja1, Robert Masten2, Nataša Tul-Mandić1 1University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Gynaecological clinic, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Psychology Department, Ljubljana, Slovenia - lucija.vidmar@gmail.com
The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which bereaved women perceive and cope with induced abortion for fetal abnormality. We examined the relative impact of major variables for predicting adjustment (in terms of depression, anxiety and grief) among bereaved women. 108 bereaved women who had had an induced abortion for fetal abnormality completed standardized self-report questionnaires measuring depression (Beck Depression Inventory–Short Form; BDI-SF), anxiety (State- Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI-X1) and grief (Munich Grief Scale; MGS). More educated women had lower levels of depression and anxiety and felt less guilty. Women with more remaining children were more anxious. Women who had induced abortion at a higher gestation of pregnancy had higher levels of sadness and anger. Women with two or more induced or spontaneous abortions had higher levels of anger. These findings increase the understanding of the impact of factors associated with bereavement outcome following induced abortion for fetal abnormality. On that basis adequate intervention strategies should be established to identify and help mothers at high risk of poor psychological adjustment following perinatal loss.