KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE ABOUT INDUCED ABORTIONS IN BAGHDAD / AL-KARKH

Background: Induced abortion is defined as the intentional medical or surgical termination of a pregnancy before the end of gestation. It may be performed electively, by a woman’s decision, or therapeutically, due to maternal or fetal health indications. This definition distinguishes it from spontaneous abortion miscarriage, which occurs without intentional intervention. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 women using a direct interview question. The study was carried out during a period of six months from 1st of February 2025 to 31th of July 2025. It included a convenient sample from outpatients of Obstetrics and Gynecology clinics of three governmental hospitals in the Al-Karkh sector in Baghdad (Al-Imammein Al-Kadhmein medical city in Baghdad, Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital and Abu Ghraib General Hospital Baghdad). The study included Iraqi married women aged 15-49 years who agreed to participate in the study. The questionnaire included items related to socio-demographic data, knowledge, and attitude towards induced abortion. Results: The study revealed that (65.0%) of participants had acceptable knowledge about induced abortion, (19.0%) had good knowledge, and (16.0%) had poor knowledge. Most had heard about abortion (92.0%), mainly through family/relatives (50.4%) and media (34.4%). Common perceived reasons for abortion were fetal malformations (71.3%) and unwanted pregnancy (69.3%). Awareness of complications such as bleeding (90.3%) and uterine rupture (80.7%) was high. Regarding attitude (54.0%) showed a poor attitude, and (46.0%) had an acceptable attitude. Only (31.7%) supported legal abortion, and (22.3%) believed a woman has the right to choose abortion. Significant associations were found between knowledge and variables like age, education, occupation, income, and residence (P<0.05). Similarly, attitude was significantly associated with marital status (P=0.003) and number of family members (P=0.002). Conclusions: Most participants had acceptable knowledge but a poor attitude toward induced abortion. There was significant association between knowledge and young age woman, marital status, higher education, government employment, sufficient income, family members and urban residence. There were significant association between attitude and marital status and family members. Awareness programs are needed to improve attitudes and empower women to make informed reproductive health decisions.