Reasons and meanings attributed by women who experienced induced abortion: an integrative review^*

Motivos y significados atribuidos por las mujeres que experimentaron el aborto inducido: revisión integradora

OBJECTIVE

Identifying the contribution of developed research on what motivates women to induce an abortion and the meaning attributed to these experiences in their lives.

METHOD

An integrative review conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS, BDENF, CINAHL and SciELO databases, covering the periods from 2001 to 2011.

RESULTS

We selected and analyzed 11 studies with selection criteria being reasons given by women for inducing abortion and/or the meaning attributed to this experience in their lives, including social, religious, ethical and moral aspects related to this practice, as well as the suffering experienced from the experience. The illegality of abortion is identified as a risk factor for unsafe abortions, reaffirming this issue as a public health and social justice problem.

CONCLUSION

Results evidence aspects that can contribute to improving health quality and ratify the importance of research to support nursing practices.

Abortion, Induced; Women; Risk Factors; Nursing Care; Review