Journal article
Social and psychological consequences of abortion in Iran
M Hosseini-Chavoshi, MJ Abbasi-Shavazi, D Glazebrook, P McDonald
International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics | WILEY | Published : 2012
Abstract
Iran has had replacement fertility since 2000. Upholding a small family size has led some couples to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Abortion is, however, permitted only on medical grounds in Iran. Using data from the Iran Low Fertility Survey, this study assessed sociodemographic correlates of abortion among a random sample of 5526 ever-married women aged 15-54 years, and used in-depth interviews to explore reasons for and psychological consequences of abortion among 40 women who had experienced an unintended pregnancy. Although social and economic concerns were the main reasons cited for seeking abortion, women experienced anxiety and depression when seeking pregnancy termination and there..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This paper is based on research funded by the Wellcome Trust and the World Health Organization. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the seminar on the "Health, Social and Economic Consequences of Unsafe Abortion" by Population Council's Mexico office, San Juan del Rio, Mexico, November 10-12, 2010. Comments from Fatima Juarez and Agnes Guillaume, and assistance from Hajieh Razeghi are gratefully acknowledged.