AİLE PLANLAMASI POLİKLİNİĞİNE BAŞVURAN KADINLARDA İSTEMLİ DÜŞÜK SIKLIĞI VE GELENEKSEL YÖNTEM KULLANMA DURUMU

Aim: To determine the frequency of induced abortions and the traditional methods used and performed among the women admitted to family planning clinics. Methods: The study is of a descriptive type and was conducted between 15th November and 28th December 2017 on 246 women admitted to the family planning outpatient clinic of a state hospital in the province of Konya. The data were collected via face-to-face interviews with a questionnaire created by scanning the literature by the researchers. Results: The average age of women included in the study is 30.21±7.05. However, the most recent methods of family planning used by women were determined to be the use of intrauterine device (IUD) as 30.1%, the use of condom as 27.6%, and the withdrawal method of contraception (coitus interruptus) as 21.1%. The rate of induced abortion was found to be 6.5%. After terminating their pregnancy with abortion, it was determined that women experienced such emotions as sadness due to the loss of the baby (62.5%), committing sins (43.75%), and feeling guilt (43.75%). The traditional methods known for terminating unwanted pregnancies were also detected as lifting heavy goods (65%), jumping from high (54.9%), shaking carpets or rugs to clean (36.6%), taking medications such as acetylsalicylic acid (36.2%), and drinking boiled herbs (29.7%). Although stating to have information on traditional methods of abortion, women participating in the study also reported that they did not use these methods. Conclusion: The provision of an appropriate contraceptive method and the prevention of the risks of women’s interfering with pregnancy with traditional methods are important modalities to prevent unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions. In addition, the emotions experienced during and after induced abortions threaten the psychological health of women.