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Cited by 94Reproductive Health and ContraceptionAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthInternational Human Rights and Reproductive Law

Factors Influencing Abortion Decision-Making Processes among Young Women

Open access
Frederico, Mónica, Michielsen, Kristien, Arnaldo, Carlos, Decat, Peter·2018·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
DOI 10.3390/ijerph15020329PMC PMC5858398
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Abstract

Background: Decision-making about if and how to terminate a pregnancy is a dilemma for young women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. Those women are subject to sociocultural and economic barriers that limit their autonomy and make them vulnerable to pressures that influence or force decisions about abortion. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the individual, interpersonal and environmental factors behind the abortion decision-making process among young Mozambican women. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Maputo and Quelimane. Participants were identified during a cross-sectional survey with women in the reproductive age (15–49). In total, 14 women aged 15 to 24 who had had an abortion participated in in-depth interviews. A thematic analysis was used. Results: The study found determinants at different levels, including the low degree of autonomy for women, the limited availability of health facilities providing abortion services and a lack of patient-centeredness of health services. Conclusions: Based on the results of the study, the authors suggest strategies to increase knowledge of abortion rights and services and to improve the quality and accessibility of abortion services in Mozambique.

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  • A recent qualitative study found that among young women who induced abortion at a health facility, none had followed the legal procedures because they lacked information on the status of the abortion law and its procedures.

    “a recent qualitative study involving young women who had experienced induced abortion found that, among those who induced abortion at a health facility, none had followed the legal procedures because they lacked information on the status of the abortion law and its procedures [14].”

    From Induced abortion: a cross-sectional study on knowledge of and attitudes toward the new abortion law in Maputo and Quelimane cities, Mozambique (2020) · cites this paper as [14]

    Results §3.7 reports that none of the women treated at a hospital said legal procedures were followed. The Discussion says women lacked knowledge of the law and procedures, but it does not establish that this was why procedures were not followed at health facilities; it also says providers largely decided the legality of procedures and often failed to inform patients. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • These beliefs, together with the need of the family to maintain social dignity and avoid public censure, constitute a pushing factor for unsafe abortion among young women and the tendency to seek abortion services without following established procedures.

    “These beliefs, together with the need of the family to maintain social dignity and avoid public censure [57], constitute pushing factor for unsafe abortion among young women, as well as the tendency of seeking abortion services without following the established procedures [14].”

    From Induced abortion: a cross-sectional study on knowledge of and attitudes toward the new abortion law in Maputo and Quelimane cities, Mozambique (2020) · cites this paper as [14]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Frederico, M., Michielsen, K., Arnaldo, C., & Decat, P.
Affiliations
  • Eduardo Mondlane University (MZ)
  • Ghent University (BE)
Corresponding author
Frederico, Mónica
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2018-02-13
Volume
15
Issue
2
Pages
329
ISSN
1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/ijerph15020329
PMC
PMC5858398
OpenAlex
W2792815049
Cited by
94
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6
FWCI
7.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › International Human Rights and Reproductive Law
Keywords
abortion decision-making, young women, unwanted pregnancy, reproductive autonomy, abortion services, abortion access, patient-centered care, socio-cultural barriers, Mozambique, abortion rights
MeSH terms
Abortion, Induced, Adolescent, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Decision Making, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Middle Aged, Mozambique, Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Unwanted, Women's Rights, Personal Autonomy, Qualitative Research, Young Adult

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