Do Social Determinants of Health Affect Discretionary Abortion? A Hospital Focused Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: It was aimed to determine the level of voluntary abortions and related factors in women over the age of 49 who applied to the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic in a secondary public hospital and were examined. Material and Method: Patients who applied to the secondary care state hospital between January 15 and March 15, 2021, were asked whether they had an optional abortion. In addition, the patients’ socio-demographic, bio-demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics were recorded by face-to-face interview technique. Results: When women living in villages are taken as reference, optional abortions are 7,954 (CI: 3,625–17,449) times for women living in the city center, 2,990 times for those living in a nuclear family when living in an extended family is taken as reference, 7,719 times for those who have social health insurance as a reference (CI: 3,614–16,487) times, when the total income level of people entering the house is taken as reference, it is 6,637 (CI: 3,059–14,401) times more for those who are inadequate. Conclusion: Social service policies should be arranged to increase access to health services and prevention methods in the eastern regions of Turkey.