Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Knowledge and Attitudes of a Number of Iranian Policy-makers towards Abortion

Authors
Hourieh Shamshiri-Milani 1
Abolghasem Pourreza 2
Feizollah Akbari 2
1 Department of Health & Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Health Management Sciences and Economics, School of Public Health, Teheran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Unsafe and illegal abortions are the third leading cause of maternal death. It affects physical, emotional and social health of women and their families. Abortion is a multi-dimensional phenomenon with several social, legal, and religious implications. The views of policy-makers affect the approach to abortion in every society. Understanding the attitudes and knowledge of high-ranking decision makers towards abortion was the purpose of this study. Materials and Methods: A qualitative research was implemented by carrying out individual interviews with 29 out of a selection of 80 presidents of medical sciences universities, senior executive managers in the legal system, forensic medicine and decision-makers in the health system and a number of top Muslim clerics, using a semi-structured questionnaire for data gathering. Content analysis revealed the results. Results: There were considerable unwillingness and reluctance among the interview-ees to participate in the study. The majority of participants fairly knew about the prevalence of illegal abortions and their complications. There was strong agreement on abortion when health of the mother or the fetus was at risk. Abortion for reproductive health reasons was supported by a minority of the respondents. The majority of them disagreed with abortion when pregnancy was the result of a rape, temporary marriage or out of wedlock affairs. Making decision for abortion by the pregnant mother, as a matter of her right, did not gain too much approval. Conclusion: It seemed that physical health of the mother or the fetus was of more importance to the respondents than their mental or social health. The mother’s hardship was not any indication for induced abortion in the viewpoints of the interviewed policy-makers. Strengthening family planning programs, making appro-priate laws in lines with religious orders and advocacy programs targeting decision makers are determined as strategies for improving women's health rights.
Keywords
abortion
Attitude
Decision Makers
Fetus
Reproductive rights
Sex preference
Women’s Health
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Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume 11, Issue 3
Autumn 2010
Pages 189-195