A cohort study of post-abortion grief severity and related factors in pregnant women hospitalized in the gynecology units of Bojnurd city hospitals

BACKGROUND: Abortion is common among women of reproductive age, but there is no consensus on whether it leads to psychological difficulties. This study was conducted to measure the level of post abortion grief and to determine the factors related to it among women admitted for abortion to hospitals gynecology units in Bojnurd. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in 2023 on 300 women aged 15-49 who were hospitalized following an abortion (spontaneous, therapeutic, or inevitable)n hospitals in Bojnurd. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Perinatal Grief Scale, Marital Satisfaction Scale, the Cassidy Social Support Scale, and the Depression Anxiety and stress scales (DAS). Following the provision of informed consent, questionnaires were administered at three time points: immediately after the abortion, and again at 2- and 4-weeks post-event. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 23), with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: The severity of grief symptoms decreased significantly over time (p < 0.001). Across all three measurement periods, mean grief scores were higher among housewives (p = 0.016) and women with a history of abortion (p = 0.002) compared to other participants. A multivariate analysis identified three primary predictors of grief intensity: a history of mental disorders, lower levels of social support, and lower marital satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The results of this study emphasize the need for special attention to housewives with a history of abortion, the development of social support, and the enhancement of marital satisfaction and coping skills. The use of targeted counseling services and the creation of family support platforms can help reduce the intensity of grief reactions and accelerate the psychological recovery process after abortion.