Özet:

Pregnancy outcomes other than live births not only attract the attention of health workers due to potential health risks but also of social scientists as these outcomes can provide clues regarding social injustice, gender inequality, and women’s fundamental human rights. Compared to previous surveys, the results from the 2013 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey indicate a change in abortion levels. Accordingly, the proportion of pregnancies ending in abortion had dropped from 10% in 2008 to 5% in 2013. This study examines this change and the factors affecting abortion. The data mainly comes from the 2013 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey. The changes in the prevalence of abortion between 2008 and 2013 have been investigated using selected characteristics of women. The factors affecting abortion between 2008 and 2013 have been modeled using logistic regression analyses and have been addressed in two groups, namely demographic and social-economic/cultural determinants. The decline in abortions from 2008 to 2013 is statistically significant. Considering the changes in abortion services provided in public hospitals with the impact of recent political discourses, this finding is expected. Analysis shows that the odds of having an abortion are affected by demographic factors more than socio-economic ones. Pregnancies to women who have ever used a modern contraceptive, which were due to contraceptive failure, and which took place after a last was already born are more likely to end in abortion. Moreover, religosity is a significant determinant of abortion.

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