Thesis (Ph. D.)--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 215-232).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1982. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-102).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Saint Louis University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-214). Also available on microfilm and online.

Wang, Yajun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-128). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Why Unmarried Women? / Location: Guangzhou / Literature Review / Methodology / Structure of the Thesis / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Love: Abortion and Romantic Relationships --- p.28 / Varied Experiences of Abortion / "Stupid, Stupider, Stupidest" / A Happy Ending / Conclusion: Why Are Men Central to the Abortion Experience? / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Lies: Concealing about One´ةs Abortion Experience --- p.44 / What Is A Lie? / Lying to the Family / Lying to Men / Conclusion: Resistance and Accommodation in Lying / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Loss: Bodily Experiences and Verbal Strategies --- p.61 / Perceptions towards Fetus Life / Verbal Strategies / The Lessons Women Learn / Conclusion: Negotiation with the Meaning of Abortion / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Peasant Workers' Version of the Story --- p.95 / "Location: Houjie, Dongguan" / Informants / Peasant Workers and Love Adventures / Peasant Workers and Birth Planning Policy / Peasant Workers and Arranged Marriage / Conclusion: Not A Different Story / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.114 / The Ideal Life for Women / "Defiant Love, Obedient Abortion" / The Value of this Study / Appendix --- p.122 / Bibliography --- p.124

The incidence of congenital anomalies or potential congenital anomalies of fetuses is two to three percent. Most women who have a positive diagnosis of a congenital anomaly choose to terminate the pregnancy. A review of the literature identifies conflict preabortion and grief postabortion as key variables for women terminating pregnancies for genetic indications. The purpose of this study was to study the degree of conflict in the decision-making process preabortion and the intensity of grief six weeks postabortion and to determine if a relationship exists between the conflict and grief variables. This was a descriptive, correlational study which used summary statistics to analyze the data. Women responded to a questionnaire six weeks postabortion about conflict experienced pretermination and current grief experienced. The sample included nine women who aborted in the second trimester of pregnancy following either ultrasound, chorionic villi sampling, or alpha-fetoprotein analysis of the fetus. The findings indicated that the women experienced conflict while deciding whether or not to abort the fetus and that at six weeks posttermination the intensity of grief experienced was still high. A scatter plot revealed a curvilinear relationship showing grief plateauing and then decreasing as the conflict scores rose. Recommendations were that objective counselling in the decision-making period prior to the termination be provided, and grief counselling should continue longer than six weeks posttermination for those who need counselling. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

No abstract available. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / gm2014 / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Throughout recorded history, women have resorted to abortion to terminate unwanted pregnancies, despite religious and legal sanctions, and frequently at significant personal risk. Abortion is, therefore, one of the oldest and at the same time most controversial of approaches to fertility control. More than most procedures, abortion is embedded in a social context that has implications for psychological responses of women. However, whilst South Africa's restrictive abortion legislation has come to the forefront of public scrutiny in recent years, research on the psychological aspects of induced abortion among black South African women has received minimal attention from social science researchers. This consideration requires redress since South Africa's abortion policy has undoubtedly had an impact on black women's mental health. Although unwanted pregnancy and the decision to abort are frequently perceived as stressful, evidence to date suggests that women do not experience severe negative reactions to abortion. Nevertheless, research has shown that some women do experience negative reactions following abortion. The responses of these women, placed within the context of the large numbers of black women who procure abortions and the immense social significance of the issue, point to a need to identify those women who are at risk for experiencing difficulties after abortion. This thesis, therefore, aimed to explore women's interpretations of the factors that influence short-term post-abortion adjustment. Five women who had procured illegal abortions were interviewed. A thematic analysis was utilised to explore participants' accounts of their abortion experiences. Furthermore, the present inquiry attempted to identify, through participants' discourses, psycho-social factors that may serve as 'risk factors' for poor post-abortion adjustment. The findings revealed that the abortion experience varies in the amount and type of stress it engenders for women. The manner in which these women responded to the procedure was found to be a joint function of their psychological state and of the social milieu in which the abortion occurred. Participants' post-abortion adjustment was found to be significantly influenced by the extent to which they experienced decision difficulty, the nature of the social environment surrounding the abortion process and individual coping responses. Thus, the findings of the study accentuate the need for counselling interventions designed to facilitate adjustment to abortion. These issues are likely to become of increased importance as the South African government deliberates on its public policy on abortion.

A prospective study was carried out to assess whether, in first and second trimester abortions, the clinical diagnosis together with the macroscopic appearance of the curettings was an accurate guide to the correct diagnosis, and whether routine histological examination of all curettings was therefore necessary. The study included 1 464 consecutive patients presenting to the Gynaecology Department at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town with clinically diagnosed abortions during the period 1st February 1988 to 31st December 1988. The correlation between the macroscopic appearance and histological examination compatible with the diagnosis of abortion was found to be 86%. Where the diagnosis was in doubt this correlation was lower. The sensitivity of using the macroscopic appearance as a screening test for the diagnosis of abortion was 96%, with a positive predictive value of 91%. The kappa statistic of agreement between macroscopic appearance and histology was 0,26. The incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease in this series was 0.06%. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was not aided by the use of routine histology.

Abortion remains a controversial contemporary social issue, spawning disparate and strongly held opinions among the American public. Pro-life activists play a central role in opposing abortion, mobilizing a disinterested public to public activism, and collectively working to restrict abortion access. This study focused on pro-life activism in Mississippi, the state with the most restrictive laws governing abortion, abortion clinics, and abortion doctors. Contrary to previous studies and media portrayals that homogenize pro-life activists and public pro-life activism, I find that diversity, rather than consensus, characterizes Mississippi pro-life activists who engage in public activism and direct action to stop abortion. Specifically, this study focuses on the diversity in turning points that propel activists into public activism, the multivalent ways activists construct abortion as a moral problem, and the ways activists create and use strategies of action to disseminate their worldviews and to stop abortion.

No description available.