A Review of the Ethical Challenges Surrounding Abortion and Related Perspectives in Islamic Societies

Chahkandi, Mohammad; Sadeghi, Yasaman; Tanoumand , Vajihe

Volume 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics IJMEHM 2024, 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics : 1-2 | Back to browse issues page

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Chahkandi M, Sadeghi Y, Tanoumand V. A Review of the Ethical Challenges Surrounding Abortion and Related Perspectives in Islamic Societies. IJMEHM 2024; 17 (S1) :1-2
URL: http://ijme.tums.ac.ir/article-1-6992-en.html

A Review of the Ethical Challenges Surrounding Abortion and Related Perspectives in Islamic Societies

Mohammad Chahkandi ^*¹, Yasaman Sadeghi¹, Vajihe Tanoumand¹

1- MSc student in Medical-Surgical Nursing, Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

Abstract: (944 Views)

Induced abortion remains a significant global health concern, with an estimated 73 million procedures performed annually. While legal and medical frameworks vary across countries, many Islamic societies grapple with ethical dilemmas surrounding abortion. This review examines the ethical challenges surrounding abortion within the context of Islamic perspectives. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the keywords "abortion," "Islam," and "ethics" in combination with Boolean operators (AND, OR) within PubMed, SID, Google Scholar, and other relevant databases. The search was conducted by three independent researchers. Inclusion criteria included articles published between 2014 and 2024 with the keywords appearing in the title, abstract, or keywords, and full-text availability. After removing duplicates, 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. The decision to undergo elective abortion is influenced by various factors, including the desire for pregnancy, maternal and fetal health status, family dynamics, social stigma, and legal and religious regulations. While Islam generally prohibits abortion, ongoing debates arise from challenges related to access to safe abortion methods and the protection of women's rights. Despite the religious prohibition of abortion, restrictions on access to safe abortion services do not eliminate the practice but rather drive women towards unsafe methods, leading to significant physical and psychological harm, particularly among vulnerable populations. Moreover, limitations on prenatal screenings can result in the birth of infants with genetic defects. These factors raise important questions about the effectiveness and ethical implications of restrictive abortion policies in Islamic societies. Ensuring access to safe and legal abortion services, along with comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, is crucial for improving maternal health outcomes and upholding women's rights within these contexts.

Keywords: Abortion, Islam, Ethics, Reproductive health, Women's rights

Full-Text [PDF 366 kb] (338 Downloads)

Type of Study: Poster | Subject: Health Ethics Congress (11th) - Poster Presentation
Received: 2025/07/16 | Revised: 2026/01/12 | Accepted: 2024/12/23 | Published: 2024/12/23