This practicum intends to explore the motivational factors behind repeat abortions. The underlying assumptions of this study include: (1) women have abortions; (2) women have repeat abortions. Based on these assumptions, the two research questions are (1) are there significant factors in the causation of repeat abortions, and (2) what are the implications regarding the lack of information and service to women which have a direct relationship to repeat abortions.

This evaluation was undertaken because of an interest by the authors in the abortion program at the Medical School. Interest in the emotional status of patients receiving abortions was aroused while working in a field placement at the Medical School through the Portland State University School of Social Work. With the consent and assistance of the Obstetrics-Gynecology Department and the Director of Social Services, this study was initiated with the hope that it would be a step toward providing an over-all and continuing assessment of information about the women receiving abortions. The researchers’ particular area of interest concerned the characteristics of emotional depression as they relate to the abortion process. A decision was made that this study would concentrate on gathering data in relation to three aspects of the sample: To describe the sample through demographically terms and attitudes; To describe the amount of depression the women have prior to receiving the abortion; To determine if some circumstance or attitudes have a correlation with the amount of depression of the women.