Induced abortion rate in Iran: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Globally, 44 million induced abortions occur annually, with 50% being unsafe.
• Existing studies on induced abortion rates in Iran present inconsistent findings.
• Accurate incidence data is vital for understanding reproductive health trends in Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis to estimate the incidence rate of induced abortion in Iran.
• To determine the induced abortion rate per 1000 women aged 15-44 years.
• To calculate the induced abortion ratio per 100 live births.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of national and international electronic and conference databases was performed.
• Included 10 cross-sectional studies involving 102,394 participants.
• Analyzed data using random effect models to estimate induced abortion rates and unintended pregnancy prevalence.

Main Results:

• The estimated induced abortion rate was 8.9 per 1000 women (aged 15-44 years).
• The induced abortion ratio was estimated at 5.34 per 100 live births.
• The prevalence of unintended pregnancy was found to be 27.94 per 100 pregnant women.

Conclusions:

• This meta-analysis provides a clearer understanding of induced abortion incidence in Iran compared to other Asian developing countries.
• Findings underscore the need for improved data collection methods beyond medical records and surveys.
• Further research is required to accurately estimate the rate of unsafe abortions in Iran.