Psychological and Social Disorders of Turkish Women During an Unaccepted Pregnancy in a Foreign Country

Abstract

Up to 1976, legal interruption of pregnancy was only possible for medical reasons. During a 2-year period, 113 women, almost exclusively from the lower social class, presented for the legally prescribed examination. The problems arising from an undesired pregnancy, culturally, within the family and individually, are described in detail. The considerable problems in communication, the different ideas about morals and ethics, and the magical and mystical ideas in connection with contraception and pregnancy, have proven to be of the greatest importance. The indications for the interruption: psychiatric diagnosis, occupational possibilities, housing and the education of the women are examined. It is shown that the findings are of special importance in present-day West Berlin, since in certain districts the percentage of Turks already amounts to 10% of the inhabitants. To date little information has been gathered about the social and psychic background of these women, since the relevant legislation has only been recently liberalized.