Factors Regulating Reproductive Behavior (Induced Abortion: Its Causes and Determinants) A Field Study in Jableh

Abstract

This study explores induced abortion as one of the mechanisms regulating reproductive behavior by examining the social, economic, and health-related factors that lead women to make the decision to terminate a pregnancy. The research employs a descrip­tive–analytical methodology and gathers data through field interviews using a structured questionnaire. The purposive sample consisted of 20 married women of reproduc­tive age from the city of Jableh and its surrounding rural areas, selected in equal proportion. Each participant had experienced at least one induced abortion within the past five years.

The findings indicate that the decision to undergo an induced abortion arises from a significant interplay of psychological, social, economic, and health circumstances in women’s lives, rather than being influenced by a single factor. The study also found no association between induced abortion and low educational attainment of either spouse, nor with women’s lack of economic participation. On the contrary, the participants were generally well-educated—many holding relatively high academic degrees—and were economically active. Additionally, their balanced distribution between urban and rural settings did not appear to affect the outcomes of the field study.