Caring from Male Partner When Unwanted Pregnancy is Terminated from the Perspectives of Health Care Providers

Abstract

Men who participate in a sexual encounter leading to an unwanted pregnancy typically are not expected to accept responsibility for providing care to women who choose pregnancy termination. This qualitative study aims to assess the views of health care providers towards the role of males on caring for their female sexual partners after terminating an unwanted pregnancy. Thirteen participants consisting of ten professional nurses, two physicians and one social worker with experience in taking care of women who had terminated an unwanted pregnancy were included in the study. Individual interviews were conducted. Data analysis was carried out through content analysis. Member checking was conducted to establish the rigor of the study. According to the participants, male partners are able to take care of women in the aspects of physical health, mental health, and participating in birth control. Our findings suggest that encouraging men to be supportive of their partner during the process of pregnancy termination enhances reproductive health care and transforms the experience from a women-only framework to one of gender equity.

Keywords

• abortion
• health care provider
• providing care from male partner
• unwanted pregnancy