Phenomenology of Induced Abortion in Northern Uganda Among HIV-Positive Women Following an Unintended Pregnancy
Amir Kabunga,1 Alfred Acanga,2 Judith Akello Abal,3 Caroline Kambugu Nabasirye,4 Halimah Namata,5 David Mwesigwa,2 Anna Grace Auma,4 Eustes Kigongo,6 Samson Udho4 1Department of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 2Department of Public Administration and Management, Lira University, Lira, Uga...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Open Access Journal of Contraception |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/phenomenology-of-induced-abortion-in-northern-uganda-among-hiv-positiv-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OAJC |
| _version_ | 1797843353265504256 |
|---|---|
| author | Kabunga A Acanga A Akello Abal J Kambugu Nabasirye C Namata H Mwesigwa D Grace Auma A Kigongo E Udho S |
| author_facet | Kabunga A Acanga A Akello Abal J Kambugu Nabasirye C Namata H Mwesigwa D Grace Auma A Kigongo E Udho S |
| author_sort | Kabunga A |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Amir Kabunga,1 Alfred Acanga,2 Judith Akello Abal,3 Caroline Kambugu Nabasirye,4 Halimah Namata,5 David Mwesigwa,2 Anna Grace Auma,4 Eustes Kigongo,6 Samson Udho4 1Department of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 2Department of Public Administration and Management, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 3Department of Commerce and Business Management, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 4Department of Midwifery, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 5Department of Mental Health, Makerere University, Lira, Uganda; 6Department of Infectious Diseases, Lira University, Lira, UgandaCorrespondence: Amir Kabunga, Department of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira, Uganda, Tel +256777929576, Email akabunga@lirauni.ac.ugBackground: More than half of pregnancies in Uganda are unintended, and nearly a third of these end in abortion. However, little research has focused on women living with HIV’s subjective experiences following induced abortion. We explored how women living with HIV subjectively experience induced abortions in health facilities in Lira District, Uganda.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-phenomenological study between October and November 2022. The study was conducted among women of reproductive age (15– 49 years) who were HIV positive and had undergone induced abortion following an unintended pregnancy. Purposive sampling was used to sample 30 participants who could speak to the research aims and have experience with the phenomenon under scrutiny. The principle of information power was used to estimate the sample size. We conducted face-to-face, in-depth interviews to collect data. Data were presented as direct quotes while providing a contextual understanding of the lived experiences of the study participants.Results: The results showed that the major causes of induced abortion were financial constraints, concern for the unborn babies, unplanned pregnancy, and complex relationships. Regarding induced abortion-related experiences, three themes emerged: loss of family support, internalized and perceived stigma, and feelings of guilt and regret.Conclusion: This study highlights the lived experiences of women living with HIV following an induced abortion. The study shows that women living with HIV had induced abortions due to numerous reasons, including financial concerns, complicated relationships, and a fear of infecting their unborn babies. However, after induced abortion, the women living with HIV faced several challenges like loss of family support, stigma, and feelings of guilt and regret. Based on HIV-infected women who underwent induced abortion and an unexpected pregnancy, they may need mental health services to reduce the stigma associated with induced abortion.Keywords: abortion, lived experiences, unintended pregnancy |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:04:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0b85c4c965384b35af8c2305af84bbd3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1527 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:04:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Access Journal of Contraception |
| spelling | doaj.art-0b85c4c965384b35af8c2305af84bbd32023-04-20T18:42:14ZengDove Medical PressOpen Access Journal of Contraception1179-15272023-04-01Volume 14738283175Phenomenology of Induced Abortion in Northern Uganda Among HIV-Positive Women Following an Unintended PregnancyKabunga AAcanga AAkello Abal JKambugu Nabasirye CNamata HMwesigwa DGrace Auma AKigongo EUdho SAmir Kabunga,1 Alfred Acanga,2 Judith Akello Abal,3 Caroline Kambugu Nabasirye,4 Halimah Namata,5 David Mwesigwa,2 Anna Grace Auma,4 Eustes Kigongo,6 Samson Udho4 1Department of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 2Department of Public Administration and Management, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 3Department of Commerce and Business Management, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 4Department of Midwifery, Lira University, Lira, Uganda; 5Department of Mental Health, Makerere University, Lira, Uganda; 6Department of Infectious Diseases, Lira University, Lira, UgandaCorrespondence: Amir Kabunga, Department of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira, Uganda, Tel +256777929576, Email akabunga@lirauni.ac.ugBackground: More than half of pregnancies in Uganda are unintended, and nearly a third of these end in abortion. However, little research has focused on women living with HIV’s subjective experiences following induced abortion. We explored how women living with HIV subjectively experience induced abortions in health facilities in Lira District, Uganda.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-phenomenological study between October and November 2022. The study was conducted among women of reproductive age (15– 49 years) who were HIV positive and had undergone induced abortion following an unintended pregnancy. Purposive sampling was used to sample 30 participants who could speak to the research aims and have experience with the phenomenon under scrutiny. The principle of information power was used to estimate the sample size. We conducted face-to-face, in-depth interviews to collect data. Data were presented as direct quotes while providing a contextual understanding of the lived experiences of the study participants.Results: The results showed that the major causes of induced abortion were financial constraints, concern for the unborn babies, unplanned pregnancy, and complex relationships. Regarding induced abortion-related experiences, three themes emerged: loss of family support, internalized and perceived stigma, and feelings of guilt and regret.Conclusion: This study highlights the lived experiences of women living with HIV following an induced abortion. The study shows that women living with HIV had induced abortions due to numerous reasons, including financial concerns, complicated relationships, and a fear of infecting their unborn babies. However, after induced abortion, the women living with HIV faced several challenges like loss of family support, stigma, and feelings of guilt and regret. Based on HIV-infected women who underwent induced abortion and an unexpected pregnancy, they may need mental health services to reduce the stigma associated with induced abortion.Keywords: abortion, lived experiences, unintended pregnancyhttps://www.dovepress.com/phenomenology-of-induced-abortion-in-northern-uganda-among-hiv-positiv-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OAJCabortionlived experiencesunintended pregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Kabunga A Acanga A Akello Abal J Kambugu Nabasirye C Namata H Mwesigwa D Grace Auma A Kigongo E Udho S Phenomenology of Induced Abortion in Northern Uganda Among HIV-Positive Women Following an Unintended Pregnancy Open Access Journal of Contraception abortion lived experiences unintended pregnancy |
| title | Phenomenology of Induced Abortion in Northern Uganda Among HIV-Positive Women Following an Unintended Pregnancy |
| title_full | Phenomenology of Induced Abortion in Northern Uganda Among HIV-Positive Women Following an Unintended Pregnancy |
| title_fullStr | Phenomenology of Induced Abortion in Northern Uganda Among HIV-Positive Women Following an Unintended Pregnancy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phenomenology of Induced Abortion in Northern Uganda Among HIV-Positive Women Following an Unintended Pregnancy |
| title_short | Phenomenology of Induced Abortion in Northern Uganda Among HIV-Positive Women Following an Unintended Pregnancy |
| title_sort | phenomenology of induced abortion in northern uganda among hiv positive women following an unintended pregnancy |
| topic | abortion lived experiences unintended pregnancy |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/phenomenology-of-induced-abortion-in-northern-uganda-among-hiv-positiv-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OAJC |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kabungaa phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy AT acangaa phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy AT akelloabalj phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy AT kambugunabasiryec phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy AT namatah phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy AT mwesigwad phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy AT graceaumaa phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy AT kigongoe phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy AT udhos phenomenologyofinducedabortioninnorthernugandaamonghivpositivewomenfollowinganunintendedpregnancy |