Some women ‘concealing pregnancies’ out of fear

Some Irish women are concealing their pregnancies, for reasons including past experiences of abuse, fears over job security, and domestic violence.

Preliminary findings from the Kiss Study, shows that while the prevalence of concealed pregnancy in Ireland is no greater than in other countries, it is still a “contemporary phenomenon” and one in which more assistance and supports are needed to help those involved.

Midwife and public health nurse Sylvia Murphy Tighe, who is a research fellow at Trinity College Dublin, has had some findings from the study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing and will have complete findings by the end of this year.