Unwanted Pregnancy and Abandoned Abortion Decisions among Disadvantaged Women: A Qualitative Study

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Hoda College, Qom, Iran

2 Department of Counseling and Psychology, Humanities Faculty, Hazrat-e Masoumeh University, Qom, Iran

10.30476/whb.2026.108086.1368

Abstract

Background: Unwanted pregnancy among disadvantaged women is often shaped by poverty, family instability, and limited social support. While some proceed with abortion, others initially consider it but ultimately continue the pregnancy. The present study investigated how women’s lived experiences—reflections, evolving meanings of motherhood, and interpretations of social, economic, and familial circumstances—shaped the inner deliberations of those who intended abortion but chose continuation.
Methods: This phenomenological qualitative study, conducted from October 2024 to March 2025, employed Diekelmann’s seven- step hermeneutic method to analyze the lived experiences of 12 low-income women who had considered abortion but ultimately decided not to proceed with it. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, recorded and transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through iterative coding and thematic synthesis instead of statistical tests.
Results: The findings revealed six main themes: 1) Between bread and life: making sense of economic hardship and maternal choices; 2) The shadow of addiction: perceiving and navigating spousal addiction; 3) Support and assistance: interpreting emotional and practical guidance in decision-making; 4) Navigating physical strain, maternal responsibilities, and marital tensions; 5) Motherhood amid social judgment and stigma: personal meaning and reflection; 6) Negotiating men’s roles: understanding support and pressure in abortion decisions.
Conclusions: Economic hardship, addiction, stigma, and relationship dynamics were interpreted and morally negotiated realities. Women’s decisions to continue pregnancy arose from subjective meaning-making that balanced material constraints with ethical and emotional reflections.These findings call for reproductive health policies that respect women’s agency and lived experiences within disadvantaged contexts.

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