Abortion prevalence and its related factors in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the pooled prevalence rate of different types of abortion and the most important related factors of abortion in Iran based on a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on the Iranian studies during the February 1, 2012 to December 31, 2024. Abortion prevalence and its influencing factors were evaluated. Relevant keywords were used to find eligible studies in Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science-Direct and SID databases. Due to high heterogeneity in included studies, random-effects model was utilized to estimate the pooled estimated of abortion and its subgroups.

Results: Out of 231 reviewed articles, only 11 articles on 24429 women were finally included. The pooled prevalence of induced abortion, spontaneous abortion, legal abortion and overall abortion was estimated as 7.65% (95% CI 4.24 to 11.95), 5.92% (95% CI 0.24 to 18.32), 1.66% (95% CI 0.83 to 2.76) and 7.23% (95% CI 1.07 to 18.22), respectively.

Conclusions: Abortion is a worldwide major public health problem even in Iran and related to different socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. Its prevalence in Iran is high and it remains as reproductive health concern in Iran due to low fertility rate and oncoming up down population growth.

Keywords

Abortion / Miscarriage / Risk factors / Prevalence / Iran / Systematic review

Conflict of interest statement

The authors of the present study have no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgements

The authors are very appreciative of Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Development of University for financial support of this work.

Funding

This study was conducted by financial support of Qom University of Medical Sciences by 23-2881 grant number.

Authors’ contributions

Roghaye Ahangari, Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi, and Seyedeh Sakineh Latifi-Rostami contributed to presenting the initial idea and design of study. Azadeh Asgarian and Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi have worked in searching for the sources and primary draft of the article. Seyedeh Sakineh Latifi-Rostami and Roghaye Ahangari and Azadeh Asgarian have assessed the quality of articles and critical appraisal of included articles. Finally, all authors accepted the responsibility for the accuracy and correctness of the content of the article with the final approval.

Publisher’ s Note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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