A Cross-sectional Study of Psychosocial Problems Following Therapeutic Abortion With the Mother’s Spiritual Experiences

Abortion can be stressful for the family and may lead to psychological problems. The question arises whether religious attitudes can be restructured into women who experience induced and spontaneous abortions. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after therapeutic abortion (Induced and spontaneous) with the mother’s spiritual experiences.

This cross-sectional study with a sample size of 104 people was conducted in 2018-2019 in the selected hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The convenience sampling method was used in 2018. Research tools including the Mississippi PTSD Scale questionnaire were implemented for measuring stress and religious attitudes and completed immediately and a month after abortion. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using one-way ANOVA, least significant difference post hoc test, and paired t-test or Wilcoxon test.

Based on the results, 68.7%, 71.8%, and 72.7% of the abortion group with forensic medical letter, other causes, and spontaneous abortion had a high level of religious attitudes, respectively. In addition, 78.1%, 69.2%, and 72.7% of those who had an abortion with a forensic medical letter, underwent abortion for other causes, and experienced a spontaneous abortion had moderate PTSD immediately after abortion, respectively. Further, 62.5%, 64.1%, and 66.7% of women having an abortion with forensic medical letter, undergoing abortion for other causes, and experiencing spontaneous abortion had moderate PTSD one month after abortion, respectively. The findings revealed no significant relationship between PTSD differences immediately and a month after the abortion in the subjects (P=0.175).

The research community had a high religious attitude while having no association with PTSD reductions. More than half of the pregnancies were unwanted, which may be due to stress levels.