Eda KAYA, Nimet Emel LÜLECİ, Ece SÖYLEM ŞENKAL, Zehra Nadide ÇİÇEK, Ece ASLAN

Marmara University Medical Students' Perception on Sexual Violence against Women and Induced Abortion in Turkey

Background: Historically, sexual assault is a common issue in Turkey. As doctors are one of the steps to help sexually assaulted women, medical students should have basic knowledge of and sensitivity regarding this subject. Another common women's public health issue is induced abortion. In countries where access to abortion is restricted, there is a tendency towards unhealthy abortion. Aims: The aims of this study are: (1) to determine the attitudes and opinions of Marmara University Medical Faculty students about sexual assault against women and induced abortion and (2) to propose an educational program for medical students about sexual assault and abortion. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The questionnaires were self-administered and the data were analyzed using SPSS v.15.0. First, the descriptive statistics were analyzed, followed by Chisquare for contingency tests assessing differences in attitudes toward sexual assault and induced abortion by factors such as gender and educational term. Differences were considered statistically significant at p0.05). Although there was no significant difference regarding the extent of punishment by victim's status as a virgin, 21.3% (n=63) agreed that punishment should be more severe when the victim was a virgin. About 40.7% (n=120) agreed that the legal period of abortion in Turkey (10 weeks) should be longer. The majority (86.1%, n=255) agreed that legally prohibiting abortions causes an increase in unhealthy abortions. Conclusion: An educational program on these issues should be developed for medical students.

PDF

___

Krug E, Dahlberg L, Mercy J, Zwi A, Lozano R. World report on violence and health. World Health Organization (WHO) 2002;Ch.6:149.
Weiss P, Zverina J. Experiences with sexual aggression within the general population in the Czech Republic. Arch Sex Behav 1999;28:265-9. [CrossRef]
Savran G. 80'li Yılların Kampanyaları ve Özel Alanın Politikası, Özgürlüğü Ararken: Kadın Hareketlerinde Mücadele Deneyim- leri İçinde (Campaigns of 80's and politics of specialists, when we search for freedom: Experiences on struggles of women).
Koçali F. Mor İğnenin İzi Silinmez (Mark of Purple Needle can- not been erased). Amargi 2007;4:8-9.
Sarıhan Ş. Türk Ceza Kanunu Kadınlara Neler Getiriyor? (What does Turkish penal law provide to women?) Ankara, İl Özel İdaresi Genel Sekreterliği (Ankara, Secretary General of Special Provincial Administration); 2005;51-2.
Alikasifoglu M, Erginoz E, Ercan O, Albayrak-Kaymak D, Uysal O, Ilter O. Sexual abuse among female high school students in Istanbul Turkey. Child Abuse Negl 2006;30:247-55. [CrossRef]
Yavuz MF, Gölge BZ, Safran N. A survey on sexual assault in marriage. Journal of Legal Medicine 1998;3:45-50.
Martin SL, Kilgallen B, Tsui AO, Maitra K, Singh KK, Kupper LL. Sexual behaviour and reproductive health outcomes: As- sociations with wife abuse in India. JAMA 1999;282:1967-72. [CrossRef]
Sedgh G, Henshaw S, Singh S, Bankole A, Drescher J. Legal abortion worldwide: Incidence and recent trends. Int Fam Plan Perspect 2007;33:106-16. [CrossRef]
Sağlık Bakanlığı TC, Kalkınma Bakanlığı TC. (Turkish Repub- lic Ministry of Health, Turkish Republic Ministry of Develop- ment); 2013 Türkiye Nufüs ve Sağlık Araştırması (2013 Turkey Population and Health Survey). Bölüm 2014;6:101.
Bilge N. Halk Sağlığı Bakışıyla Ana Çocuk Sağlığı (Mother and Child Health from the Public Health's Point of View). Bursa: Güneş-Nobel Tıp Kitabevi; 1997.
Sevindik F, Açık Y, Gülbayrak C, Akgün D. Elazığ İl Merkezinde Yaşayan Kadınların İstemli Düşük Yapmak Amacıyla Kullandığı Yöntemler (Abortion methods of women who live in the center of Elazığ). TSK Koruyucu Hekimlik Bülteni 2007;6:322-3.
Tokuç B, Berberoğlu U, Saraçoğlu G, Çelikkalp Ü. Sağlık Yüksek Okulu Öğrencilerinin Evlilik Dışı Cinsel İlişki, İstemli Düşükler ve Kontraseptif Kullanımı Hakkındaki Düşünceleri (Perceptions of health college students on extramarital sexual intercourse, abortion and use of contraceptives). Türkiye Halk Sağlığı Dergisi (Turkish Public Health Journal) 2011:170-1.
Çokar M. Kürtaj (Abortion). İstanbul: Babil Yayınları (Babil Publications); 2008.
Greenfeld AL. Sex offenses and offenders: An analysis of data on rape and sexual assault. Bureau of Justice Statistics 1997;NJC- 163392.