fa Obstetrics and Gynecology Obstetrics and Gynecology نامه به سردبیر Letter to the editor <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:14.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Background:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> Conflicting abortion statistics in Iran hinder policymaking, with scientific estimates (7.5&ndash;10.8 per 1,000) differing from official figures (300,000&ndash;600,000 annually).</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:14.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Methods:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> We employed a regression equation approach to estimate abortion rates based on the correlation between modern contraceptive prevalence and the total abortion rate (TAR). Data from the 2022 Kerman Fertility Survey (4,684 married women) indicated a contraceptive prevalence of 52.2%. The TAR was calculated using</span></span> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">the formula TAR = 4.0 &minus; 0.07 &times; modern contraceptive use, leading to the annual abortion rate estimation.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:14.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Results:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> The estimated annual abortion rate was 9.89 per 1,000 married women, consistent with scientific studies and significantly lower than official estimates, which suggest rates of 17.1 to 35.4 per 1,000.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:14.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Conclusion:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> The disparity between scientific and governmental estimates underscores the importance of relying on evidence-based research for policymaking in Iran to effectively address unsafe abortions and improve reproductive health strategies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div> Abortion, Iran, Policy, Pregnancy 10 11 http://caspjrm.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-12-157-2&slc_lang=fa&sid=1 Javad Ghasemi 10031947532846002512 10031947532846002512 No Nouzar Nakhaee nakhaeen@kmu.ac.ir 10031947532846002513 10031947532846002513 Yes Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran