Abstract

Background: It is common for women to report feeling pressured into abortions. Those who abort contrary to their own values and preferences are more likely to experience more negative emotional and psychological outcomes. But the full breadth and timing of negative reactions has not been fully explored, especially among Canadians.

Methods: Portions of the Unwanted Abortion Studies were deployed in a survey of 1,141 Canadian women 41-45 years of age, inclusive, to compare the types and degree of pressures they face compared to their American counterparts.  Twenty-three additional symptoms were assessed as well as a measure of when, if at all, negative post-abortion reactions were most severe.

Results:  With a 98.3% completion rate, 26.7% of eligible respondents reported a history of abortion. Moderate to high levels of pressure were reported from the male partner (48%), family members (37%), other persons (33%), financial pressures (69%) and other circumstances (77%).  Ninety-one percent reported moderate to high levels of pressure to abort on at least one scale.  Pressure to abort was positively correlated with all negative outcomes investigated, including a self-attributed decline in mental health. The worst of negative reactions occurred immediately after their abortions for 35%, while 40% reported delayed negative reactions, including the 15% who stated that the worst effects “continue to persist, even today” an average of twenty years later.

Discussion: Most Canadian women with a history of abortion felt pressured to abort contrary to their own values and preferences. Negative reactions manifest in numerous ways, but all are associated with feeling pressured to abort.  The pressures Canadian women face are similar to those reported by American women with the exception that they are somewhat more likely to feel pressured to abort by their male partners.