Reproductive Health (Mar 2022)

Prevalence of stress and depression and associated factors among women seeking a first-trimester induced abortion in China: a cross-sectional study

  • Qiuxiang Zhang,
  • Na Wang,
  • Yinchu Hu,
  • Debra K. Creedy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-022-01366-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Plain language summary Abortion is a stressful life event. Understanding how women perceive having an abortion and their psychosocial responses will enable health providers to understand women’s needs and provide high-quality care. This study aims to determine the frequency of stress and depression among women seeking an induced abortion in early pregnancy in China and associated factors Around 25.3% of women reported high stress and 22.5% reported depression. Women were more likely to suffer high stress if they reported low resilience, were not-using contraceptives, had low social support, were non-local residents, were unhappy with their intimate relationship, or held pro-life attitudes towards abortion. High perceived stress, high education level, and non-local status were associated with depression. The findings indicate stress and depression are quite common among women seeking an abortion in China, especially those with high-risk factors. It is necessary to evaluate and promote the mental health of women seeking an abortion.

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