This qualitative study, employing Grounded Theory, explored the lived experiences of 40 women in Tehran regarding intentional abortion through semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed a central theoretical construct: “The Dilemma of Wanting or Not Wanting a Child,” reflecting the profound tension between maternal desire and the compulsion to terminate pregnancy.
Causal conditions driving this decision include unsuccessful contraception, familial conflicts, concerns over fetal/maternal health, and academic or professional child-avoidance. This occurs within a context of financial pressure, previous difficult pregnancies, parenting anxieties, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Intervening conditions, such as lack of social support, external judgment, and spousal insistence, either facilitate or complicate the process.
Consequences encompass physical and psychological suffering, reduced resilience, and marital discord. To cope with these outcomes, women employ various strategies, including therapeutic counseling, constructive activities, normalization, avoidance, and physical exercise. Ultimately, the study highlights that intentional abortion is a multi-dimensional decision shaped by complex personal and social interplays, necessitating specialized support from mental health professionals and policymakers.