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Parental response to mid‐trimester therapeutic abortion following amniocentesis
Author(s) -
Jones O. W.,
Penn Nolan E.,
Shuchter Stephen,
Stafford Claire A.,
Richards Teri,
Kernahan Colleen,
Gutierrez Jennifer,
Cherkin Patricia,
Reinsch Sylvia,
Dixson Barbara
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.1970040403
Subject(s) - spouse , respondent , abortion , amniocentesis , psychology , pregnancy , therapeutic abortion , obstetrics , medicine , clinical psychology , family medicine , gynecology , prenatal diagnosis , fetus , sociology , biology , anthropology , political science , law , genetics
Abstract This article reports the results of a retrospective study designed to examine the responses of couples to genetic amniocentesis and subsequent therapeutic abortions due to birth defects. Fourteen women and 12 men were interviewed by experienced interviewers using a structured format designed by the authors, and each interview was audiotaped for later rating. The 5 raters (all women) were instructed to independently rate each interview using forms designed by the authors to elicit information about many aspects of the participant's individual responses as well as perceptions of spouse's responses to the process of pregnancy, amniocentesis, therapeutic abortion, and sequelae. Ratings of all 5 raters were conjoined and an homogeneous narrative was constructed for each interview. Results indicate, in general, that the respondent couples coped well with this experience. In fact 70 per cent of the respondent couples described their marital relationships as becoming closer as a result of their experience. Only a few participants reported long‐term deleterious effects. Most couples coped by relying on relatives, friends, and occasionally, professional counsellors. In addition, most participants in this study suggested ways to improve the medical and psychological aspects of this experience.