ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To gain knowledge of the attitudes, questions, and problems in decision making on abortion by young men recently informed about the positive pregnancy tests of their girlfriends. This knowledge will be used as a basis for developing a service for such young men. METHODS: A grounded theory approach was used for interviews at an outpatient clinic for adolescents in Sweden with 18 individuals faced with sharing the decision about abortion. RESULTS: In a suggested model, the decision-making process can be understood by three concepts: reactions (including feelings, apprehensions, and moral conflicts), impact factors (including quality of relationship, consideration for girlfriend, and psychosocial factors), and tools for process (including communication, secrecy/confidentiality, and organized support). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the importance of helping the male adolescent with his reactions as a condition for using the equipment constituting impact factors and tools for process on the way to decision about abortion.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Legal/psychology , Attitude to Health , Decision Making , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Men/education , Men/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Confidentiality , Female , Humans , Male , Models, Psychological , Morals , Needs Assessment , Pregnancy , Pregnancy in Adolescence/psychology , Pregnancy, Unwanted/psychology , Sex Education , Sexual Partners/psychology , Social Support , Surveys and Questionnaires , SwedenABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to obtain knowledge about the opportunities available to Swedish teenage boys and young men for obtaining advice and support during the process involved in making decisions on abortion. The study was carried out at Swedish Outpatient Clinics for Adolescents. We also wanted to obtain knowledge about the staffs' views of male attitudes and feelings regarding abortion. This knowledge is intended for use in developing models for advice and support in this difficult situation. A questionnaire focused on current management routines and staff experiences of questions and problems taken up by the male partner concerning abortion. Questionnaire answers indicated that the potential father, as well as the mother, requires active care and information together with the partner. There was also a need for individual support and information for male partners requiring engagement of health care professionals who are familiar with the problems involved.
