AMBIVALENCE AMONG WOMEN APPLYING FOR ABORTION

Background. Our purpose was to characterize women expressing ambivalen ce when applying for abortion. Material and methods. Data were collect ed, by self-administered questionnaires, from 339 women. Thirty percen t were in doubt about the decision when the abortion was due. Socio-ec onomic factors more often influenced the choice among ambivalent women than among those not in any doubt. Results. Ambivalent women more oft en felt exposed to social pressure and some felt that the abortion was not their own choice. Their decision-making was marked by doubt durin g the entire process. Conclusions. There is a need for professional su pport during this decision-making process. Many of the ambivalent wome n stated that their decision might not have been the same under differ ent personal circumstances.