Annually, an estimated 73,000 induced abortions*
are performed by married women of
reproductive age in Iran. In addition to the post-abortion costs, which place a burden on
the government, about 16 million dollars are spent annually by women in Iran to obtain
these abortions, which are mostly illegal and unsafe. The extent of maternal mortality and
health risks associated with unsafe abortions remain uncertain due to data limitations. To
reduce clandestine, unsafe abortions, modern contraceptives should be supplied to
provinces and sub-groups of the population with high fertility and low modern
contraceptive use.