Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
2 Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center Institute for Futures Studies in Health Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Abstract
Introduction: Abortion is a key demographic factor influencing population size and structure. This study examined approval of induced abortion among married women in Iran and identified its associated socio-cultural determinants.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,446 married women aged 18–49 years who attended hospitals in Kerman, Iran, in 2022. Participants were recruited through consecutive sampling and completed a validated questionnaire during face-to-face interviews. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with approval of induced abortion.
Results: The majority of participants (n=1223; 84.6%) disapproved of induced abortion. The mean (SD) attitude score of participants toward childbearing was 3.45 (0.79) on a 5-point scale. Approval of induced abortion was significantly higher among women who were younger (AOR=1.67; 95% CI: 1.21, 2.30), had higher educational attainment (AOR=2.07; 95% CI: 1.24, 3.45), used female contraceptive methods (AOR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.59 – 3.72), or reported depressive symptoms (AOR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.07 – 2.05). Conversely, approval was significantly lower among women with higher levels of religiosity (AOR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.37-0.67), and greater marital satisfaction (AOR=0.64; 95% CI: 0.46 – 0.88).
Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of developing policies and interventions that address the social, psychological, and reproductive-health concerns of women who approve of induced abortion.
Highlights
Nouzar Nakhaee (Google Scholar) (PubMed)
Abedin Iranpour (Google Scholar) (PubMed)
Keywords
- Abortion, Induced
- Pregnancy Reduction
- Abortion attitudes, Reproductive behavior, Fertility preferences, Married women
Main Subjects
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