| Room 524-B | Cultural Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Time: 2:30 PM-4:30 PM |
Anthropological study of the beliefs and behaviors of women about abortion in Azarbayejan neighborhood in an area in downtown Tehran, Iran.
Chinichian, Maryam*,1, Poorreza, Abolghasem2, Maticka-Tyndale, Eleanor3, 1 Institute of Public Health Research -Tehran University of Medical Sciences., TEHRAH, TEHRAN, Iran2 School of Public Health -Tehran University of Medical Sciences., TEHRAN, TEHRAN, Iran3 University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT- Introduction: Anthropology is concerned with analyses, description and interpretation of social life; it is an attempt to compare and assess the origin of different social phenomena. In this research we have studied the abortion beliefs and behaviors of women in reproductive age. We also tried to explain how these beliefs and behaviors were changing with time. Considering the in-depth nature of anthropological research, Azarbayejan, an old and traditional district in downtown Tehran, Capital of Iran, was selected as the setting for this study. Method: Besides 50 local women who came from different ethnic backgrounds, we interviewed 21 key informants for their views on abortion. These included health care professionals, community health volunteers, psychologists and marriage guidance counselors, social workers, midwives and physicians. The individual in-depth interviews and narrative interviews were complemented by a simultaneous literature and document review. Result: It became apparent that women's beliefs on abortion form a wide spectrum, from outright condemnation to complete acceptance. Despite the illicit nature of abortion, the practice is still very present in today's society. A variety of medications, both herbal/traditional and modern, are being used to terminate pregnancy. Conclusion: Existence of a certain type of behavior is an indication of its function in the community. To conclude, in spite of the range of beliefs, abortion not only exists, but also it is often practiced in an unhealthy manner. Appropriate and realistic decisions are needed to promote the quality of life in reproductive age women.
Key words: abortion, anthropology, belief, behavior, Iran