Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

INTRODUCTION

Take my hand not my life- Vashi Chandi

Abortion is a yearly problem by many countries in the world. Despite of illegality of abortion in

most countries, it doesnt stop the numbers of morality happened due to its effects physically and

mentally on both child and the mother. There have been an increasing number of performed abortions

each year throughout the world. It is fueled by several factors such as social and economic factors, live-in

status, poverty, having too many children, having married partners or fear of parents. Abortion is the

removal of fetus before it is viable or the termination of pregnancy. It is usually done before the fetus

reach its 25th week old. In the past, abortion is done using crude tools like sharpened object, through

'hilot' and other traditional method. Through the years, performing abortion became modern due to the

advancement of the field of medicine. It can now be done through medications and surgical procedure.

In recent years, abortion has been expanded not just the issue itself but also the other problems

that result from abortion. According to Reardon et al. (2003) study identified that due to guilt, regretted

choice and lowered self-esteem, abortion could result to longer mental effects. They have also concluded

that abortion may increase the risks of developing other mental disorders like substance abuse, anxiety,

hostility, depression and bipolar disorder. Additionally, compared to women who delivered, 162% had

been admitted for psychiatric treatment after having abortion and continued to be more at risk for more

than 4 years. (Coleman et al., 2002). A similar opinion was stated by the American Journal of

Orthopsychiatry- women who had abortion tend to have more psychiatric care than those women who

delivered. It is a ten-minute procedure that could cause you regrets the rest of your life.

In most countries especially the religious one abortion is highly prohibited because for them, it is

an intentional killing of an innocent and defenseless life (POPCOM 2015). It is a difficult, contentious and

even unresolved issue for some religious groups. However, in a survey conducted by Pew Research Center

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

explained that most religions topped by Buddhist followed by Christians, already agreed to legalize the

abortion. This clearly showed the open-mindedness of people regarding abortion. In the Philippines, the

Catholic Church hierarchy wields a strong influence socially and on government officials. The church does

not only prohibited abortion but also, forbid the use of contraceptives. Despite this opposition, some

politicians have been supportive of promoting reproductive health. In contrast of former President Gloria

Macapagal Arroyo, who opposed the use of modern contraceptives in favor of natural methods which is

being approved by the Vatican- former president Benigno S. Aquino III, endorsed the highly debated

Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (commonly known as the Reproductive

Health Law). This policy was opposed by the church hierarchy but supported by the Philippine public. It

was signed into law last December 2012, but the implementation delayed by the Supreme Court (Finer

and Hussain 2013).

The illegality of abortion did not stop Filipino women to engage in unsafe abortion. Year 2012

showed that 600,000 women had underwent abortion, over 100,000 women were hospitalize and 3

women die every day because of complications from unsafe abortion. Most who suffered complications

due to unsafe abortion were poor women, they tend to use regulating drugs without the proper amount

of dosage. (Padilla, 2013). Many women in the Philippines are unable to achieve their desired family size,

and have more children than they want. The Philippine government has made efforts to improve access

to contraceptive services, but abortion is illegal under all circumstances and thus highly stigmatized.

Nonetheless, abortion is common, but is often performed in unsanitary conditions and using outdated

techniques (Finer and Hussain 2013). On the other hand, Stillman et al. (2004) declared that results of

unsafe abortion to women is poorly documented. Their research stated that young and unmarried women

were mostly engage in poor sexual and lack of knowledge about reproductive health which made them

to have poor access to safe abortion. These attempts could lead to health consequences for women.

Additionally, Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2007) concluded before the age of 18, women who

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experience abortion would probably have higher risk of breast cancer and also, abortion could double the

risk of women to have cervical, ovarian and liver cancer (Life Dynamics & Rutherford Institute, 2007).

These researches had already been done years ago. Improvements and more updated results will

be more helpful in understanding the real situation of women who underwent abortion and to identify

their current feelings. Additionally, to show that people of today is a way more open-minded than before.

This may also be a way for a clearer view of abortion in the country and understands its effects on the

mother herself after the decision of killing her own child.

This study documents the voices of women to gain a more in-depth understanding of their

decisions on aborting their own child. This aims to track their life experiences after engaging in abortion.

In addition, the study could also explore ways or strategies to immediately recover from the effects of

abortion physically, mentally or spiritually. The study also aimed to investigate the themes and categories

describing the life of women who performed abortion. Combining this study and other researches, we will

be able to know that abortion in the Philippines is a serious matter and worth knowing with.

Statement of the Problem

The present study aimed at exploring the experiences of women who underwent abortion, their

feelings and current situation along the vicinity of Meycauayan, Bulacan. Specifically, it sought to answer

this research query:

Central Question:

What are the experiences of women who had undergone abortion?

Subquestions:

1. What are the themes that describe the experiences of women who had undergone abortion?

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

Conceptual Framework

Realities and Truths

Effects of abortion

Teenage Pregnancy

Abortion

Experiences of
Women Who
Underwent
Abortion

Figure 1

The study seeks to explore the realities of the respondents in Meycauayan, Bulacan by viewing

the information from individuals in their experiences of abortion, teenage pregnancy and its effects. The

connection of the bases on how they exist that emerge on the lives of the participants. This framework

therefore uses these relationships and connections to describe the peoples live experiences to establish

the truth.

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

Review of Related Literatures

This paper gives a wider view on the papers related literature and a brief background of related

studies on experiences of women who have had an abortion. These will provide as guide for the

formulation of findings, conclusions and recommendations of the study.

In the entire world, pregnancy is a happy event on the lives of a wife and the husband along with

their families. However, it is not the case always. Millions of women in the world become pregnant

unintentionally thus contribute to the increasing number of maternal and infant mortalities. It is shown

that out of 270 million pregnancies occurs throughout the world annually, about 79 million of these were

unintended and among these,50% end up in abortion (Bongrats & Westoff 2000).

The latest research on womens health (Kirkman et al. 2009) shows that abortion prevails when a

woman has every reason not to continue pregnancy, for it might have an adverse effect in her life, thus

continuing pregnancy will have a sense of responsibility on the mother towards the child, this suggests

that abortion is a choice to be decided which depends on the reasons of the women whether she will

continue in her pregnancy or not.

Another study on the topic by Arthur (1999) that opposed the study of Kirkman et al., asserts that it

is not just the woman who will decide whether she will have an abortion or she will continue pregnancy.

The man also has his own responsibility to the child this means that he has also the rights to decide.

Additionally, it was said that abortion has 2 sides the pro-life and pro-choice, these 2 sides offers different

solutions. The pro-life believes that abortion isn't good for it is taking away the new born life so the

solution they offer is to make the child live. On the other hand, the pro-choice offers an opposite solution

which is abortion because they believe that woman have enough reasons on doing this.

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

Most countries in the world still illegalized the abortion due to their religious beliefs. However, this

made women who experienced unwanted pregnancies to unsafe abortion. Abortion performed under

unsafe conditions put the lives of every women in danger. But many of the countries like Canada and

China already legalized the abortion to lessen their population and to save the dignity of the women.

There are instances that although abortion is prohibited, doctors will do this or permit the act depending

on the situations of the woman to save her life (World health Organization 2008).

Unwanted pregnancy mostly happened in teenagers. In United States, half of all the unwanted

pregnancies ended up in abortion. Clearly, it is the main consequences of mistimed pregnancy.

Interruption of pregnancy is a global issue whether it is legalized or not. The United States is one of the

countries that already legalized abortion. This is to prevent complications among women due to unsafe

procedures that eventually may cause their death (Luker, 1984; Jaffe et al., 1981).

One of the countries with high rate of abortion is the Philippines. The collected data from the State

of Philippine Population Report (SPPR 2002) eliminate the reasons why most Filipinos are highly involved

in abortion. Among those reasons, economic crisis and having too many children were the two main

reasons of abortion in the country. Abortion in the Philippines is done through any of the following: taking

unprescribed drugs like cytotec, taking prescribed drugs with higher amount of dosage, taking herbs and

related concoctions and pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.

From the thousands of Filipino women who had an unintended or unwanted pregnancy each year,

many of them find difficulties to decide whether to give birth to a child that they didn't expect or to abort

it. Due to the illegalization of abortion in the Philippines, it is hard to identify or estimate the number of

children being aborted in the country (Finer and Hussain 2000).

Legalized or not, abortion could still cause risks not just to the mother herself but also to their future

children. Women who have done abortion may end up drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs to

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

temporarily forget the guilt. This may place their future children at higher risk of congenital defects, low

birth weight and death (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology). Another study supported the

risks of abortion to future children was conducted by The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. It

explained that children of woman with history of abortion have less supportive environment band

behavioral problems compared to woman who never had an abortion. Additionally, woman would have

weak mothering skills thus affect her bonding with future children.

Different studies appeared to show that abortion may increase the suicidal tendency of women. The

University of Minnesota (2000) explained that teenage girls who performed abortion is 10x more likely to

attempt suicide compared to teens who have not done abortion. They also added that abortion link to

traumatic experience of women. If they suffered depression, isolation or an emptiness that cannot be

filled by drugs or alcohol anymore, they tend to act suicide. "After all", some reason out, "I killed my child,

why not me?".

The explanations given highlighted to the idea of women who experienced abortion with the many

studies and researches conducted in the past. The study therefore would like to show present data

through analyzing the current situation of Filipino women who have had an abortion and ways to help

them.

METHODOLOGY

The study treads on a qualitative exploratory research design utilizing three participants from

Meycauayan, Bulacan using semi-structured interviews either through Facebook Messenger or journal

sheets in an iterative or simultaneous data gathering procedure. The researcher codes the data to form

categories and later reduces the data into themes to explain the live experiences of the participants in

both graphical and verbal form.

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Rat Model of Abortion explained the connection of each themes along with their categories

to each other. The themes extracted from the participants responses namely teenage pregnancy, fear,

depression, forgiveness and acceptance, and the right to life.

Figure 2: The Rat Model of Abortion

Teenage Pregnancy

The first theme is teenage pregnancy wherein it is categorized by education, teenage moms are

less likely to graduate from high school and because of their studies and dreams, they are more likely to

think that abortion is an effective way to escape their problem. Unwanted pregnancy mostly happened in

teenagers that ended up in abortion (Luker 1984; Jaffe et al. 1981). Based on the gathered data by the

researchers, all the respondents became pregnant at their teenage years resulting to abortion. They
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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

ended up with the decision to continue their education and life. All the participants were involved in

teenage pregnancy. Teenagers were mostly not yet prepared for family life or being a mother. In that age,

they were supposed be at school and having their own teenage stuffs. On previous researches having too

many children and economic crisis were the top reasons for abortion to happen.

Teenage years are probably the most significant years for all. Since they are still teenagers their

mindset is on their dreams thus their feelings take over and feels the excitement of being engage in a

relationship. People who have relationship should know their limits thus, sex education is more needed

to guide them and to warn them about the consequences they might encounter. Surely people who are

not knowledgeable about this may end to unwanted pregnancy.

Fear

This is what the respondents feel when they got pregnant at an early age. This theme is

categorized by fear of parents, God-fearing, influence of friends and own decision. Based on the gathered

data from the respondents, when unwanted pregnancy happened to them abortion followed not just

due to education but at the same time, fear of their parents. This made friends as the person they could

count for. In most cases, fear lead them to decide on their own regarding abortion. Since, they are still

young, they are still dependent to their parents that is why they are afraid of what their parents might

react to this kind of situation. Asking for an advice to their closest friend is one way to ease their problem

yet it is still their decision on what she would do on the said situation, these respondents are all God-

fearing. Friends may somehow influence their decision but in the end, it is still the parents decision on

either to keep the child alive or abort it.

Woman who had an abortion are often under enormous pressure. Wherein she is pressurized to

act as if nothing happened for they consider abortion as an inglorious act. Some would probably hide it

from others to avoid criticism and hurtful words. Thus, herself alone, may face negative emotions and

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

through this abortion might have a great impact to her which can be a traumatic experience she would

encounter in her life.

The Right to Life

Since the respondents already performed abortion, they realized that it is not the childs fault and

that the child deserves to live even though they are not yet born but still, they already existed on this

world. Thus, they also know that they do not have the right to end the life of an innocent child. Based on

the gathered data of the researchers, participants see abortion as an act of iniquity. Its still a human who

has the right to live and exist. Based on the gathered data of the researchers, participants see abortion as

an act of iniquity. Its still a human who has the right to live and exist. Following abortion, the value of

being a parent is still present. Theyve felt the guilt, loneliness and regrets. The participants regretted

what theyve done as what they stated:

Anak ko pa rin yun, May karapatang mabuhay, Wala akong karapatang kumitil ng buhay ng tao.

Realizations from unwanted pregnancy clears the puzzling minds of the teenage moms, this

makes them realize that the child has nothing to do with the consequences they are facing. The innocent

child maybe a product of a wrong circumstances but then they admit that the child has the right to live.

Forgiveness and Acceptance

Nowadays, teenage moms are stronger. They might feel depression, fear, or disappointment on

unwanted pregnancy in their teenage years but still, they surpass everything. They choose to continue to

live their lives despite of the hardships they encountered by forgiving themselves and forgiveness from

God and accept everything wholeheartedly to be able to move on. From previous researches women with

history of abortion is more likely to engage in illegal drugs and marijuana (American Journal of Obstetrics

and Gynecology). Additionally, they are six times more likely to commit suicide compared to women who

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

delivered (Gissler et al. 1996). However, based on the gathered data by the researchers, no one chose to

engage in taking drugs like marijuana. They never had the thoughts of committing suicide and chose to

continue their life as teenagers. They found ways through prayer, asking forgiveness from God and chose

to forgive themselves.

The wounds of yesterday aren't permanent, the regrets they have will eventually fade. All the pain

and sufferings would end everything will heal on time, accepting their mistake is the first step to be able

to move on to this kind of stressful experience

Depression

Depression is categorized based on the emotions the respondents felt after abortion. Truly,

mixed emotions drove them crazy- regrets, loneliness and guilt are the emotions that bothers their

conscience. Regret to the fact that they end a life of a person. Loneliness and guilt for the fact that they

do not have any rights kill an innocent, defenseless life. This lead to the thought that alcohol is the only

way to ease the pain which made them suffered not just physically but also, emotionally.

Some women would feel relief after abortion for the thought that their problem is already solved

but sooner or later their conscience would likely to visit them. Performing abortion can surely affect their

emotions and feelings. Relief, Loneliness, Grief, or Regrets can be felt after abortion but there are times

that one feeling will dominate or could be stronger than the others. These certain events led them to do

things that are unusual, in some instances they are more likely to drink alcohol to escape reality for a

while. And some would be engaged in Wrongdoings and would probably start to believe that their live

isn't worth living.

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A caveat that needs to be noted that the test was administered by the researchers themselves.

The study was conducted only around the vicinity of Meycauayan, Bulacan. This would not include the

respondents name as what the researchers assured them before the interview through chat with the

means of Facebook Messenger. This is to avoid any possible judgements or criticisms from the readers of

this research study.

The results of this study opposed one of the findings of Arthur (1999) that it is not just the

woman who will decide whether she will have an abortion or she will continue her pregnancy. The people

surrounding her could also affect the womans decision regarding the abortion of the child. Based on this

study, peers and families may somehow affect the womans decision but still, its their own decision at

the end. It also opposes the findings of different studies such as the study conducted by the University of

Minnesota (2000) which explained that teenage women who underwent abortion increased their

tendency to act suicide compared to teenage women who delivered. Additionally, no one from the

respondents chose to take illecit drugs like marijuana. They all find their way to start again their lives and

be a better, mature and respectful woman. Admittedly, we could not expect that the participants

immediately recovered from depression due to guilt and regrets. This can clearly conclude that the women

of today are stronger. Arguably too, it depends on mans perspective and open-mindedness if he or she

will see abortion as an iniquity or as a solution.

Moreover, the study should have a wider marking system on the future replications of the study.

In this study, the participants were not required to produce a full explanation of their responses. However,

more elaborate and in-depth answers are better and will be more helpful for the results of the study.

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

Only three respondents were involved on the study and only six questions were provided. More

respondents and queries in the advanced level should be used in future researches. Most pointedly, the

study only based on the feelings and emotions of the said participants.

REFERENCES

Center for Reproductive Rights. The World's Abortion Laws.

http://www.reproductiverights.org/sites/crr.civicactions.net/files/documents/AbortionMap2014.PDF

Date: 2014

WHO. Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems, 2nd edn.

http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/unsafe_abortion/9789241548434/en/

American Academy of Family Physicians, Management of Maternity Care, available at

http://www.aafp.orgiPreBuiltlmomcare

American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Medical Management of Abortion, Clinical

Management Guidelines for Obstetrician-Gynecologists, (26) ACOG Practice Bulletin (April 2001).

https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/journals/3711005.pdf

American Academy of Family Physicians,Management of Maternity Care, 2 available at

http://www.aafp.orgiPreBuiltlmomcare

Dance Laboratories, (PressRelease)More Than lOO,OOBU.S. WomenHave 17 Choseni?4feprexfor i%eir

Non-Surgical Abortion (Sept. 24,2002), available at httu:/lwwwearlyoptionpill.com/m

Jiang HJ et al., Care of Women in U.S. Hospitals, 2000, Agency for Healthcare 28 Research and Quality,
HCUP Fact Book No. 3 (2002), available at http:liwww.ahro.aov/datakcunlfactbk3/factbk3.pdf

National Abortion Federation, 2004 Clinical Policy Guidelines, available at http://www.guidelines.gov

National Abortion Federation, Early Uptions: A Providers Guide to Medical 32 Abortion, Education
Materials, available at http://www.earlvontions.ordedu materiaIs.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Abortion surveillance-United States, 2008. MMWR,

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

60(SS-15): 1-41. Available online:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6015a1.htm?s_cid=ss6015a1_w.

Guttmacher Institute (2011). In Brief: Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States. Available online:
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.htmlTrudy M. Johnson, M.A., LMFT is the
author of Choice Processing and Resolution. Her website is www.sadafterabortion.com

Foster A, Wynn L, Trussell J. Evidence of global demand for medication abortion information: An analysis
of www.medicationabortion.com Contraception 2014; 89:174-180.

Herrin et al. (2001), State of the Phhilippine Population Report, Chapter 2: Unmet Need and Family

Planning (pp.25-39)

Bionote:

LEABELLE M. CORPUZ is a Senior High student of Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics strand from Meycauayan National High School. She currently lives at Camalig, Meycauayan

City Bulacan; leabellecorpuz@yahoo.com. Her research interests are in the field of Chemistry and

Psychology.

ANJIELYN N. CORTES is a Senior High School student of Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics strand from Meycauayan National High School. She currently lives at Perez, Meycauayan

City, Bulacan; anjielyncortes14@gmail.com . Her research interests are in applied science, physical science

and biological science researches.

CRAVEN JAKE R. EUMAG is a Senior High student of Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics strand from Meycauayan National High School. He currently lives at Roma de Gato Heritage

Homes; cravenEumag22@gmail.com. His research interests are in reading comprehension and technology.

LESTER JHON E. GOGORZA is a Senior High student of Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics strand from Meycauayan National High School. He currently lives at Roma de Gato Heritage

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 Experiences of Women Who Underwent Abortion 2017

Homes; lester.john.gogorza@yahoo.com.His research interests are in applied statistics and genetic

engineering.

ROSEMARIE C. PAREDES is a Senior High student of Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics strand from Meycauayan National High School. She currently lives at Camalig, Meycauayan

City Bulacan; rosemarieparedes15@gmail.com. Her research interests are in psychological behaviours of

human and how they act on different situations.

ANGEL MAE G. SUMAYLO is a Senior High student of Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics strand from Meycauayan National High School. She currently lives at Iba, Meycauayan City

Bulacan; angelsumaylo.99@gmail.com . Her research interests are in the field of education and biological

science.

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