Motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high-risk pregnancies: a scoping review
BackgroundThe decisions of women with high-risk pregnancies to continue or terminate a pregnancy are complex and influenced by various factors. This scoping review synthesises the qualitative literature on the underlying motivations influencing these decisions.AimThis analysis explores the underlyin...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1517669/full |
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| author | Mónica Antunes Mónica Antunes Ana Galhanas Ana Lúcia Vitorino Sara Palma Sara Palma Ana Frias Ana Frias |
| author_facet | Mónica Antunes Mónica Antunes Ana Galhanas Ana Lúcia Vitorino Sara Palma Sara Palma Ana Frias Ana Frias |
| author_sort | Mónica Antunes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe decisions of women with high-risk pregnancies to continue or terminate a pregnancy are complex and influenced by various factors. This scoping review synthesises the qualitative literature on the underlying motivations influencing these decisions.AimThis analysis explores the underlying motivations that influence women's decisions regarding the continuation or termination of pregnancy, considering the challenges and dilemmas this population faces.MethodsThis review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology. No date restrictions were applied to the search. Titles and abstracts were screened to select original studies, and cross-checking was performed to avoid case overlap. We included studies that focused on the factors influencing women's decisions to either continue or terminate pregnancies when complications arose.ResultsEighteen studies involving women from different countries and cultural contexts were included. The review identifies four main themes driving these decisions: health considerations, religious convictions, social and political factors and ethical and moral dilemmas. Each theme interlinks to form a complex web of influences that significantly shape women's choices, illustrating how deeply personal, societal, and ethical contexts converge in these critical decisions. Significant emotional and cognitive factors, particularly hope, also play a crucial role. The findings highlight the complexity of the decision-making process and provide a deeper understanding of the personal, social, and spiritual dimensions involved.ConclusionsMultiple factors shape the complex decisions of women with high-risk pregnancies. Understanding these motivations is crucial to providing appropriate support and counselling. This review underscores the need for healthcare professionals to be aware of the diversity of factors involved and to adopt an individualized and context-sensitive approach in their practice, guiding their future actions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-698e1acbe29b4f3a829e71810ae1eda5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-5059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-698e1acbe29b4f3a829e71810ae1eda52025-01-22T07:11:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592025-01-01610.3389/fgwh.2025.15176691517669Motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high-risk pregnancies: a scoping reviewMónica Antunes0Mónica Antunes1Ana Galhanas2Ana Lúcia Vitorino3Sara Palma4Sara Palma5Ana Frias6Ana Frias7Nursing Department, University of Évora, Évora, PortugalNursing Research Platform Lisbon of Health Research Center (CIIS), Portuguese Catholic University, Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Obstetrics, Évora Hospital of Central Alentejo, Évora, PortugalDepartment of Obstetrics, Garcia de Orta Hospital, ULS Almada/Seixal, Almada, PortugalSantarém School of Health Sciences, Santarém Polytechnic University, Santarém, PortugalNursing Research, Innovation and Development Center of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Lisbon, PortugalNursing Department, University of Évora, Évora, PortugalComprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), University of Évora, Évora, PortugalBackgroundThe decisions of women with high-risk pregnancies to continue or terminate a pregnancy are complex and influenced by various factors. This scoping review synthesises the qualitative literature on the underlying motivations influencing these decisions.AimThis analysis explores the underlying motivations that influence women's decisions regarding the continuation or termination of pregnancy, considering the challenges and dilemmas this population faces.MethodsThis review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology. No date restrictions were applied to the search. Titles and abstracts were screened to select original studies, and cross-checking was performed to avoid case overlap. We included studies that focused on the factors influencing women's decisions to either continue or terminate pregnancies when complications arose.ResultsEighteen studies involving women from different countries and cultural contexts were included. The review identifies four main themes driving these decisions: health considerations, religious convictions, social and political factors and ethical and moral dilemmas. Each theme interlinks to form a complex web of influences that significantly shape women's choices, illustrating how deeply personal, societal, and ethical contexts converge in these critical decisions. Significant emotional and cognitive factors, particularly hope, also play a crucial role. The findings highlight the complexity of the decision-making process and provide a deeper understanding of the personal, social, and spiritual dimensions involved.ConclusionsMultiple factors shape the complex decisions of women with high-risk pregnancies. Understanding these motivations is crucial to providing appropriate support and counselling. This review underscores the need for healthcare professionals to be aware of the diversity of factors involved and to adopt an individualized and context-sensitive approach in their practice, guiding their future actions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1517669/fulldecision makinghigh-risk pregnancymotivationpregnancy complicationspregnancy terminationreview |
| spellingShingle | Mónica Antunes Mónica Antunes Ana Galhanas Ana Lúcia Vitorino Sara Palma Sara Palma Ana Frias Ana Frias Motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high-risk pregnancies: a scoping review Frontiers in Global Women's Health decision making high-risk pregnancy motivation pregnancy complications pregnancy termination review |
| title | Motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high-risk pregnancies: a scoping review |
| title_full | Motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high-risk pregnancies: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high-risk pregnancies: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high-risk pregnancies: a scoping review |
| title_short | Motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high-risk pregnancies: a scoping review |
| title_sort | motivations regarding continuing or terminating pregnancy in women with high risk pregnancies a scoping review |
| topic | decision making high-risk pregnancy motivation pregnancy complications pregnancy termination review |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1517669/full |
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