Determinants of induced abortion: results of a qualitative
study
S. Cali, S.D. Torun, Z. Kursun, D. Save
Department of Public Health, Marmara University School of
Medicine, Turkey
Introduction: In Turkey since from two decades ago, it is
possible to have an induced abortion in case of contraceptive failure, unwanted
pregnancies or medical contraindications. According to the act on Pregnancy
Termination, all women aged 18 years or older are allowed for pregnancy
termination legally. This intervention can be performed both in a public
hospital before the end of 10th gestational week. Married couples should decided
together and a signed form is asked from the husband if a women want to have
induced abortion. Although modern methods are available to a great extent
considerable high proportion of unwanted pregnancies is assumed to be due to
lack of modern method use.
Aims and methods: This study was carried out to define
the characteristics of 42 women who had induced abortion in private or public
clinics and to explore the reasons of induced abortion by in-depth interviews in
Istanbul.
Results: The age of the women varied between 20–48 and
there were women from all educational status from illiterates to university
graduates. Amongst all women %82 had official and 11% had religious weddings
while 7% were single. Of the participants 31% were not using any contraceptive
methods while 38% were using withdrawal. The number of women who used modern
methods were 13 (seven condoms, one intra- uterine device, three oral
contraceptives and one inject able progesterone). The leading reasons for not
using any method were as follows: Lack of knowledge or awareness about medical
methods of women and/or partners, medical contraindications against all methods.
The causes of induced abortion mainly phrased as economical difficulties of
bringing up children. Two women believed that they would not get pregnant: one
because she was in menopause and another because she was told by her doctor that
she would not get pregnant after abortion. One woman got pregnant at her first
sexual intercourse, one because she got sexual intercourse with her husband
again after separation. Another woman had abortion because she had desired to
have a child while her husband did not. In most of the cases couples decided to
have pregnancy termination together but in two cases women had taken decision
individually. Women usually expressed their appreciation of having an
opportunity to get rid of unwanted pregnancy while couple of them thinks that
induced abortion was sin.
Conclusion: Although contraceptive methods are widely
available there are still need for public education and medical staff to prevent
unwanted pregnancies.
