Exploration into causes of unwanted pregnancy: A qualitative study

Document Type : Original Quantitative and Qualitative Research Paper

Authors

1 MS in Health education, Social determinants of health research centre, School of health, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Health education, Department of Public Health, Social determinants of health research centre, School of Health, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a memorable event; but when unwanted, it causes harmful effects on families health specially mothers and their growing babies.
Aim: This study aims to understand the causes of unwanted pregnancies.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in the cities of Ahwaz and Behbahan. Using a purposeful sampling, data were collected from 27 women with direct or indirect experiences of unintended pregnancy. Participants were purposefully selected and sampling was continued until data saturation. Data were gathered through unstructured in-depth interviews. Analysis was done using thematic analysis method. For this purpose, interviews were recorded, transcribed word by word and analyzed concurrently using constant comparison analysis. Reliability and transferability were approved to ensure the rigor of the study.
Results: Three main themes were emerged from the data analyses, including: not being happy in their marriage, lack of readiness and perceived inability of having a baby, and the number and characteristics of previous children.
Conclusion: The findings provide evidence for women`s experiences of the causes of unintended pregnancy, allowing researchers and policy makers to implement context-based interventions and approaches for vulnerable groups to promote their health. Therefore, qualitative research into men's experiences of the unintended pregnancy of their wives is suggested.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1.  Mortazavi F, Damghanian M., Motaghi Z, Shariati M. Womens Experiences of Unwanted Pregnancy.  BEHBOOD. 2012; 15(6):492-503. (Persian)
  2. Amani F, Bashiri J, Nahan Moghadam N, Tabrayi Y.  Using logistic Regression Models to Examine the Determinants of Unwanted Pregnancy. Qom University of Medical Sciences.2011; 4(1)32-6. (Persian)
  3. Ghadi Pasha M, Bashar Doost N, Ghodosi A, Samadi rad B, Nikian Y, Rohparvar R. Evaluation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Midwives Involved in Yazd Terms of Therapeutic Abortion legal Abortion and Crime (intentional). Journal - Yazd University of Medical Sciences martyr.2012; 19(2)141-7. (Persian)
  4. Tavakoli M, Rafiei GH, Bakhshi H, Moosavi S.M, Shafiei N. Unwanted Pregnancy and Related Factors in 1995 in Rafsanjan. Journal Of Rafsanjan University Of Medical Sciences & Health Services 2001; 1:5-20.(Persian)
  5. Mansoori A, Hoseini Sh, Dadgar S . Prevalence and Factors Associated with Unintended Pregnancies in Women of Mashhad. Journal of Medical Sciences Birjand.2008; 16(1)65-71.( Persian)
  6. Naghavi M, Badakhsh MH. Evaluation of Unwanted Fertility in the South of Tehran. Journal of MedicaL Council of Iran 1997 ;14: 14-9.( Persian)
  7. Poorheidari M, Souzani A, Razavi N .Prevalence and Factors Associated with Unintended Pregnancies in SHahrood City. Quarterly Payesh. 2005; 6(1)63-70. (Persian)
  8. Levandowski BA, Kalilani-Phiri L, Kachale F, Awah P, Kangaude G, Mhango C. Investigating Social Consequences of Unwanted Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in Malawi: the Role of Stigma. Int J gynaecol obstet. 2012 Sep; 118 Suppl 2:S167-71.
  9. Oskuyi F, Peyroyi H. Qualitative Research in Nursing. Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2004. 
  10. Merghati -Khoei E, Zarei F, Taghdisi M, Rajati F, Rahmani A. Divorce From a Divorcee Woman's Perspectives: A Qualitative Study. Journal of qualitative Research in Health Sciences. 2013; 2 (3):234-47. (Persian)
  11. Polit DF. Beck CT.Nursing Research: Principle and Methods. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia. PA. USA. 7th ed. 2003; 305-8.
  12. Poorasl M, Rostami F, Ivanbagha R, Torabi S. Prevalence of Unwanted Pregnancy and Multivariate Analysis of Its Correlates in Tabriz City, 2004. .Med Sci J Islam Azad Uni Tehran Med Branch, 2005; 15 (4):201-6. (Persian)
  13. Streubert Speziale H.J, Carpenter Dona R., "Qualitative Research in Nursing: Advancing the Humanistic Imperative" 4th Ed, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006:133-51.
  14. Chinichian M, Holakouei Naeini K, Rafiei Shirpak KH.Voluntary Abortion in Iran:a Qualitative Study, Payesh, 2007; 6(3):219-32. (Persian)
  15. M Antonia Biggs, Heather Gould, Diana Greene Foster. Understanding why Women Seek Abortions in the US. BMC Womens Health. 2013 Jul 5; 13:29.
  16. Finer LB,Frohwirth LF,Dauphinee LA,Singh S,Moore AM. Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2005; 37(3):110-8.
  17. Belton S, Whittaker A. Kathy Pan, sticks and pummelling: Techniques Used to Induce Abortion by Burmese Women on the Thai Border. Soc Sci Med. 2007 Oct; 65(7):1512-23.  
  18. Mattauer B, Peyrot D, Aussiloux MT. Repeated Requests for Termination of Pregnancy. Some Socio-cultural and Psychological Aspects, [Article in French]. Contracept Fertil Sex. 1984; 12(4):573-80.
  19. Zamani Alavijeh F, Nouhjah S, Kheiriat M, Haghigh zadeh M H. Related Factors of Unwanted Pregnancy and Intention of Women to Continue or Terminate Pregnancy Based on Health Belief Model. Quarterly Payesh.  2012; 11(6):877-85. (Persian)
  20. Saha R, Shrestha NS, Koirala B, Kandel P, Shrestha S. Patients Choice for Method of Early Abortion Among Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) Clients at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (KMCTH).  KUMJ. 2007 Jul-Sep;5(3):324-9.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics