1. “Abortion—It Is My Own Body”: Women's Narratives About Influences on Their Abortion Decisions in Ghana.
- Author
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Oduro, Georgina Yaa and Otsin, Mercy Nana Akua
- Subjects
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ABORTION laws , *ABORTION , *CONCEPTUAL structures , *DECISION making , *INTERVIEWING , *MATHEMATICAL models , *SOCIAL stigma , *QUALITATIVE research , *THEORY , *JUDGMENT sampling , *NARRATIVES , *EDUCATIONAL attainment , *UNPLANNED pregnancy - Abstract
Globally, abortion has emerged as a critical determinant of maternal morbidity and mortality. The Ghana government amended the country's abortion law in 1985 to promote safe abortion. This article discusses the findings of a qualitative study that explored the decision-making experiences of 28 female abortion seekers aged between 15 and 30 years in Ghana. Key findings from the study are that individuals claimed autonomy in their abortion decisions; underlying the abortion decisions were pragmatic concerns such as economic difficulties, child spacing, and fear of parental reaction. In conclusion, we examine the health implications of Ghanaian women's abortion decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2014
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