تحليل كيفي سقط جنين هاي ارادي و پديدارشناسي تجربۀ زيسته زنان: برخي مطالعات موردي دربارۀ زنان ساكن تهران

A Qualitative Analysis of Intentional Abortion and Phenomenology of Womenʹs Lived Experience: Some Case Studies of Women in Tehran

This paper examines the socio-demographic problem of intentional abortions in Iran. Contemporary Iran is experiencing a growing number of intentional abortions alongside institutionalization of the traditional modes of contraceptives. The growing number of intentional abortions is mostly related to the socio-economic changes of the past decades. According to the latest statistics, every year more than 80,000 abortions take place in Iran, most of which are done illegally and in an unsafe manner, which often results in mortality of the women or diseases. This paper will attempt to unfold latent social and cultural norms and values regarding intentional abortions about which societies as well as Iranian families tend not to be cautious. In addition, this paper uses womenʹs experiences in intentional abortions in order to reveal what societal institutions have ignored. We gathered the required data for this analysis through intensive interviews with 26 women in Tehran who had experienced intentional abortion. The primary results indicate that abortion in Iran is still a taboo and is considered a prohibited practice, but women who encounter unwanted pregnancy tend to practice it. In addition, because abortion is an illegal act in Iran, the women who look for it tend to refer to non-specialized practitioners and that may eventually result in risking their health. It seems a revision of the related legal codes and an increase In the level of awareness among couples regarding the contraceptives will contribute to increasing health standards of women and may end in a decrease in the number of unhealthy abortions. This study also contributes to the development of a theoretical synthesis which is based on studying phenomenological experiences of intentional abortions.