P5Psychological outcomes after second-trimester abortion in the setting of pregnancy complications: a qualitative study of grief and coping
Section snippets
Objectives
Choosing a method of second-trimester abortion for pregnancy complications is a preference-sensitive decision, and method choice is driven by how women desire to cope. We sought to describe how women undergoing dilation and evacuation (D&E) or induction experience grief and coping after second-trimester abortion.
Methods
From March 2012 to present, we conducted qualitative phone interviews of women from University of California, San Francisco and University of Michigan at 3 weeks and 3 months after a second-trimester abortion for pregnancy complications. All women chose their method (D&E or induction). We used a generative thematic approach to analyze the transcripts using NVivo software program.
Results
Of the 17 women enrolled, we completed 15 first-round interviews (11 D&E, four induction) and eight second-round interviews (seven D&E, one induction). Grief and coping are interrelated concepts. Themes at the initial interview included social support and isolation, grief triggers and confusion about how to cope. At the second interview, new themes included grief easing over time, future pregnancy as a trigger rather than a means to cope, and decision to move forward. We observed no differences
Conclusions
Support systems and time help women grieve and cope after second-trimester abortion for pregnancy complications. Finding similar themes across both methods may reflect the fact that choosing one’s method is related to postabortion recovery. These themes may be useful in counseling women prior to their procedure, as well as for modifying existing instruments to measure grief and coping in this population.