Analysis of behavior pattern leading to illegal abortions in Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Induced abortion is a major health problem in most countries of the world. About 22% of all pregnancies around the globe end in abortion of which, almost 50% take place unsafely with a significant role on maternal mortality. More than half of all unsafe abortions take place in those developing countries that impose legal restrictions on intentional abortions. There is no exact estimate about the rate of illegal abortions is in Iran but existent evidence suggested a high rate of mortality due to illegal abortions in the country. Since reproductive health promotion has been announced as a top priority of medical research in the field of women’s general and reproductive health, conducting comprehensive studies in this field could be informative. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the extension of illegal abortions and determine characterstics of the abortees in line with features of providers and places that these abotions are taking place based on the Evidence Mapping approach as one of the recommended methods of Evidence Based Practice(EBP). Methods and Materials: This study was a parallel convergent mixed method study consisting quantitative and qualitative parts that was implemented in three stages. In the first stage, a systematic review was conducted to gauge information about the methodologies had been used in the Iranian and international studies about illegal abortion. In the second stage information about conducted illegal abortions was collected from women of 15-49 years old who visited local health centers. In the third stage Delphi method was applied to collect data from a group of informants about features of implemented illegal abortions. Thus,important characteristics of illegal abortees and places these abortions are taking place were tabulated. Results: Self reported prevalence of illegal abortion in the studied sample was 12.3%(n=49). According to the respondents’ points of view most of the illegal abortees are in the age range of 25-34 with educational level of diploma or higher,housewife,married with 1-2 children and in moderate sicio-economic class. The most reported to be done mostly in midwives’ offices in healthy conditions. Results of the qualitative part of the study were supportive of the quantitative arm if the study. Conclusion: Findings of this three-stage study could be applied to plan interventional programs for targeting illegal abortees and abortions that may endanger the country’s women of reproductive age health and life.