The Decision of Terminating Pregnancy: The Male and Female Perspective

Year 2023, , 91 - 102, 29.04.2023

Derya Kaya Şenol , Semiha Aydın Özkan , Pınar Çiçekoğlu Öztürk , Nevin Hotun Şahin

https://doi.org/10.47115/jshs.1091953

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the male and female perspectives
in the decision of terminating pregnancy.
Method: This descriptive study was conducted between January 2017 and May
2017. The sample, consisted of a total of 190 individuals including 100 married
women and 90 married men. The data were collected using a questionnaire including
questions about the views of women and men concerning the decision of
terminating pregnancy.
Results: 85% of the women and 63.3% of the men who participated in the study
stated that it was up to a woman to make the decision of terminating pregnancy
(p<0.05). In the study, 72% of the women stated that they had a right to terminate
pregnancy in line with their reproductive rights and 70% stated that they would
make the decision of planning pregnancy and becoming a mother themselves
(p<0.05). While 61.1% of the men in the study stated that abortion aiming to terminate
pregnancy had to be considered illegal, 37.8% of them stated that women
had to be punished after an abortion performed despite having no health problem
(p<0.05).
Conclusions and Suggestions: In the study, the women and men equally believed
that the termination of pregnancy would dispossess fetus of its right to live.
The social role and status of women should not play a dominant role, especially
in an issue where there are ethical discussions such as voluntary termination of
pregnancy, and women should be able to act independently in making decisions
regarding their own life. It may be suggested that legal regulations regarding the
termination of pregnancy be made in this direction.

Keywords

Women, man, terminating of pregnancy, gender difference.

Supporting Institution

-

Project Number

-

Thanks

-

GEBELIĞI SONLANDIRMA KARARI: KADIN VE ERKEK PERSPEKTIFI

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı; gebeliğin sonlandırılması kararında kadın ve erkek
bakış açılarının incelenmesidir.
Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı tipte yapılan araştırmanın verileri, Anadolu’da bir devlet
hastanesinde Ocak 2017-Mayıs 2017 tarihleri arasında toplandı. Çalışmaya evli
100 kadın, 90 erkek olmak üzere toplam 190 birey katıldı. Verilerin toplanmasında
kadınların ve erkeklerin gebelik sonlandırma kararına ilişkin görüşlerini içeren
sorulardan oluşan anket formu kullanıldı.
Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılan kadınların %85’i, erkeklerin ise %63,3’ü kendi
bedenini ilgilendirdiği için gebeliği sonlandırma kararını kadının vermesi gerektiğini
belirtti (p<0,05). Çalışmada kadınların %72’si kadının üreme hakları doğrultusunda
gebeliğini sonlandırma hakkı olduğunu, %70’i gebeliğin planlanmasına
ve anneliğe kendisinin karar vereceğini belirmektedirler (p<0,05). Çalışmada erkeklerin
%61,1’i gebeliği sonlandırmak amacıyla yapılan kürtajın yasa dışı kabul
edilmesi gerektiğini belirtirken, %37,8’si hiçbir sağlık problemi olmadan yapılan
kürtaj sonrasında kadına ceza uygulanması gerektiğini ifade etmişlerdir (p<0,05).
Sonuçlar ve Öneriler: Kadın ve erkekler, gebeliğin sonlandırılmasının fetüsün
yaşam hakkından yoksun bırakacağına eşit oranda inanmaktadırlar. Özellikle istemli
olarak gebeliğin sonlandırılması gibi etik tartışmaların olduğu bir konuda
kadının toplumsal rol ve statüsü baskın rol oynamamalı ve kadın kendi yaşamına
ilişkin karar alma konusunda bağımsız davranabilmelidir. Gebeliğin sonlandırılması
ile ilgili yasal düzenlemelerin bu doğrultuda yapılması önerilebilir.

Keywords

Kadın, erkek, cinsiyetler arası fark, Gebelik Terminasyonu

Project Number

-

References

• Aksakal, O.S. (2003). Dıstress Subjects Accompanyıng Abortıon and Relıevıng The Anxıety Dependıng These. Tur¬kiye Klinikleri J Med Ethics, 11(1):56-60.
• Awoonor-Williams, J.K., Baffoe, P., Aboba, M., Ayivor, P., Nartey, H., Felker, B., der Tak D.V., & Biney A.A. E. (2020). Exp-loring Conscientious Objection to Abortion Among Health Providers in Ghana. Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health, (46), 51-59. DOI: 10.1363/46e892
• Brauer, M., Ditzhuijzen, J., Boeije, H., & van Nijnatten, C. (2019). Understanding Decision-Making and Decision Dif¬ficulty in Women With an Unintended Pregnancy in the Netherlands. Qual Health Res, 29(8), 1084–1095. doi: 10.1177/1049732318810435
• Costescu, D.J., & Lamont, J.A. (2013). Understanding the pregnancy decision-making process among couples see¬king induced abortion. J Obstet Gynaecol Can, 35(10),899–904. doi: 10.1016/S1701-2163(15)30811-2.
• Cavlin, A., Tezcan, S., & Ergöçmen, B. (2012). Ergöçmen B. Abortion From Women’s Perspective. Nüfus Bilim Dergisi\ Turkish Journal of Population Studies, 34,51-67.
• Gipson, J.D., Hirz ,A.E., & Avila, J.L. (2011). Perceptions and practices of illegal abortion among urban young adults in the Philippines: a qualitative study. Stud Fam Plann. 42(4),261-72. DOI: 10.1111 / j.1728-4465.2011.00289.x
• Hacettepe University Institute of Nüfus Studies. 2013 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey.http://www.hips. hacettepe.edu.tr/eng/TDHS_2013_main.report.pdf). http://www.hips.hacettepe.edu.tr/TNSA2008- main. report.pdf. Date:12.03.2019
• Hacettepe University Institute of Nüfus Studies. 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey. http://www.hips. hacettepe.edu.tr/eng/TDHS_2013_main.report.pdf) . Date:15.04.2020.
• Hardwg, J. (2015). Men and Abortion Decisions. Hastings Center Report 45, 1–5. DOI: 10.1002/hast.432
• Hirz, A.E., Avila, J.L., & Gipson, J.D. (2017). The role of men in induced abortion decision making in an urban area of the Philippines. Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 138(3), 267-271. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.12211. Epub 2017 Jul 11.
• Jones, R.K., Moore, A.M., & Frohwirth, L.F. (2011). Perceptions of male knowledge and support among U.S. women obtaining abortions. Womens Health Issues, 21,117–123.
• Karaoğlan, S., & Duman, M.Z. (2017). The Effects of Relıgıous Belıefs and Attıtudes on Fertılıty (Van Provınce Example). Journal of International Social Research, 10(50), 391-404. https://doi.org/10.17719/jisr.2017.1672
• Kurt, E., & Tunca, Y. (2016). Examining the Ethical Dilemmas in Terminating the Pregnancy Through the Basic Ethical Principles. Med Bull Haseki, 54,57-61. DOI: 10.4274/haseki.2850
• Larsson, Å., & Hilli, Y. (2018). The ethos of caring within midwifery: A history of ideas study. Nursing Ethics, 25(6), 808–818. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733016669866
• Lee, J.K., Burke, A.E., & Moreau, C. (2018). Female and male decision-making regarding whether to continue or abort an unintended pregnancy: a secondary analysis of the FECOND study. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care, 23(4), 311-317. doi: 10.1080/13625187.2018.1506100.
• Naziri, D. (2007). Man’s involvement in the experience of abortion andthe dynamics of the couple’s relationship: a clinical study. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care, 12(2):168–174. DOI: 10.1080 / 13625180701201178
• Preventing unsafe abortion. of Reproductive Health and Research World Health Organization Avenue Appia 20, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland E-mail: [e-mail] www.who.int/reproductivehealth. Date:18.07.2019
• Populatıon Plannıng Law Republic of Turkey in 2827. Date of Acceptance: 24/5/1983. Published on R.Gazete: Date: 27/5/1983 Issue: 18059. Published in: Imprint: 5 Volume: 22 Page: 352. http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/Mevzu¬atMetin/1.5.2827.pdf
• Reich, J.A., & Brindis, C.D. (2006). Conceiving risk and responsibility: a qualitative examination of men’s experien¬ces of unintended pregnancy and abortion. International Journal of Men s Health, 2),133-152. DOI: 10.3149 / jmh.0502.133 Sarıtaş, K. (2012). Ethicality problem of abortion. Int J Soc Sci, 5,587-608.
• Seidu, A., Ahinkorah, B.O., Ameyaw E. K., Hubert, A., Agbemavi, W., Armah-Ansah, E.K., Budu, E., Sambah, F., & Tackie, V. (2020). What has women’s reproductive health decision-making capacity and other factors got to do with pregnancy termination in sub-Saharan Africa? evidence from 27 cross-sectional surveys. PLoS One, 15(7), e0235329. 10.1371/journal.pone.0235329
• Smith, C.S., & Dutta, I. (2014). Termination of pregnancy (TOP). Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Med. 24(7), 221-226. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2014.04.014
• Steinberg, J.R., Laursen, T.M., Adler, N.E., Gasse, C., Agerbo, E., & Munk-Olsen, T. (2018) Examining the associati¬on of antidepressant prescriptions with first abortion and first childbirth. JAMA Psychiatry, 75,828–834. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0849
• Vandamme J, Buysse, A., Loeys, T., Vrancken, C., & T’Sjoen, G. (2017). The decision to have an abortion from both partners’ perspectives: a dyadic analysis. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care, 22(1), 30-37. DOI:10.1080/ 13625187.2016.1255940
• Vandamme, J., Buysse, A., Loeys, T., Vrancken, C., & T’Sjoen, G. (2017). Correlates of common mental disorders among women who have had an abortion. Perspect Sex Reprod Health, 49, 123–131. doi:10.1363/psrh.12028.
• Van Ditzhuijzen J., Ten Have M., De Graaf R., Van Nijnatten C. H., & Vollebergh W. A. M. (2018). Long-term incidence and recurrence of common mental disorders after abortion. A Dutch prospective cohort study. J Psychiatr Res. 102, 132–135. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.04.001