Emotional Prophylaxis for Abortion Patients: A Pilot Study

Objective: The purpose of this study is to pilot a prophylactic intervention for post-abortion patients that addresses stigma, provides information about legitimate and harmful support services, and reinforces positive messages about why women make reproductive decisions.

Data-collection methods: This experimental, non-randomized study pilots an intervention for women presenting to the Mount Sinai Family Planning Panel for their post-operative visits after abortion. In-depth interviews were used to assess patient response to the intervention.

Summary of (preliminary) results: Of the 14 women in the study, all (14) felt that the judgmental actions and attitudes of others were hurtful to women who have had abortions and that the proposed intervention can help women "not let these actions and attitudes get to them so much." When twelve of the women were asked to choose the three points most important for women to know, the most frequently chosen answers were, "Hearing that other women have gone through this experience, too" (91.7%); "Positive messages about why women make the decision to have an abortion" (83%). All twelve felt that this intervention was personally helpful to them.

Conclusion: This pilot study is a first step to explore ways to prophylactically protect the emotional health of patients who have abortions. Future research should be done to evaluate outcome measures of interventions. Information gained from this study can be used for the creation of other prophylactic interventions involving reproductive events.