Giving Women a Voice: Perceptions and Experiences with Contraception and Abortion in Rural Armenia

Ani Jilozian, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The study was conducted to investigate women’s perceptions and experiences with contraception and abortion as well as the familial and socio-cultural factors that influence decision-making about contraception and abortion among women of reproductive age in rural Armenia. Convenience sampling was used to recruit women and health providers for the study. In-depth interviews were carried out with all participants and content analysis was employed to analyze the data. Data indicated that low levels of modern contraceptive use were mainly a result of socio-economic barriers, familial and peer influence, and negative perceptions. Abortion was primarily due to socio-economic conditions, a desire for birth spacing, and a desire to limit family size. The misuse of medical abortion was tied to socio-economic conditions, fear of surgical abortion, and misperceptions. Finally, reasons for son preference were related to socio-economic conditions and the Armenian mentality regarding relative value of gender.