Background
In Iran, restrictive abortion laws have led to widespread unsafe abortions, posing significant healthrisks. The 2021 Family and Youth Protection Law further restricted access to reproductive health services in an effortto boost birth rates. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the reasons women sought abortions in an illegalcontext, based on their own experiences.
Methods
This exploratory qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with 46 women in Kermanshah, Iran,between April and August 2024. All participants had experienced incomplete abortions after undergoing unsafeprocedures. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis and thematic analysis with MAXQDA 10 softwareto identify key themes in the women’s experiences. To ensure the study’s rigor, we applied Guba and Lincoln’s criteria,including credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability.
Results
Five main themes emerged from the interviews: economic hardship, pursuit of a prosperous life, unstablemarital relationships, health and fertility issues, and cultural factors. Economic challenges, such as unemploymentand lack of basic necessities, were the most frequently cited reasons for seeking unsafe abortions. Health issues,including unplanned pregnancies and fear of fetal anomalies, also played a significant role, alongside cultural stigmasrelated to age, illegitimacy, and gender preferences.
Conclusion
This study sheds light on the multifaceted factors driving unsafe abortions in Iran following pronatalistpolicy changes. A holistic approach is recommended to address the interconnected economic, social, and culturalchallenges that contribute to this issue. By implementing such comprehensive strategies, policymakers and stakeholderscan work to reduce the prevalence of unsafe abortion practices and foster improved health and well-beingfor women.
2024. Vol. 21, no 1, article id 182