Lived experiences of women who underwent induced abortion:

Abstract

Background: This study explored and described the lived experiences of women who underwent induced abortion in Rakai district. The study was carried out between August 2016 and August 2017.The guiding objectives were: to explore the lived experiences of women who had induced abortion in Rakai District on learning about the aborted pregnancy; to describe the lived experiences of the process of inducing an abortion among women who underwent induced abortion; and to explore the short and long term lived experiences after the induced abortion among women who had an induced abortion in Rakai district. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional research design employing a phenomenological approach of qualitative study design was used. The population of interest for this study included only women who live in Rakai who underwent induced abortion. The researcher interviewed twenty-five women who had induced abortions in the past one to three years. Participants were selected purposively basing on the available records. The inclusion criterion was women who had an induced abortion in the last three years and were identified as residents of Rakai district were eligible to take part in the study, Women Aged 18-49, Post-Abortal of one to three years: Based on IPA. Data collection methods included screening interview, in-depth interviews and Tape recording. The researcher transcribed verbatim by playing the audio recordings and writing in a note book what was recorded. Study findings: The key findings on the lived experiences included denial, shame, confusion, indecision, fear, anger, anxiety, depression and uncertainty. The participants reported use of local herbs among other substances to induce abortion. These herbs included: tea leaves, kisuula(Erlangea tomentosa), roots of sugar canes, ennanda(Commelinaceae). The processes involved were mostly traditional in nature and it was associated with: severe pain with heavy bleeding, washing the uterus, using assorted tablet, baby not coming out well. However, few used professional medics but a majority used local herbalists. The process was largely life threatening and horrible. The short and long term lived experiences after the induced abortion included secondary barrenness, depression, crying in privacy always, regret, hate for sexual relationships, emotional detachment from society and emotional maturity. Recommendations: The study recommends that Health workers and women in child bearing age need to work together in a forum discussing openly how to control unplanned pregnancies; mothers should be given pre-natal counseling; School going children should be educated about contraception and be given real contraception; Women should induce abortion only after enough preparations; the legal fraternity should consider enacting laws; Women should stop shying away and seek for professional counseling; religious leaders and elders need to talk to women in a friendly and constructive way; parents need to talk to their daughters and provide guidance. Further research needs to be done on how laws can be enhanced to protect women; need to find out how effective local medicine can be in the process of inducing abortions; the role of society in family cohesion and sexual relationship building needs to be streamlined.……………………….