Abstract : The objective of this study was to explore and compare prenatal behavior and attitudes towards pregnancy termination amongst Moslem and Jewish women in Israel. Israeli Moslem women (n = 330) and Israeli Jewish women (n =84) participated in the study, conducted online, using a survey platform. Moslem women compared to Jewish women were more inclined to undergo mainly non-invasive screening rather than invasive testing (12.6% versus 7.3%), generally rejecting pregnancy termination even in cases of abnormal findings. The Moslem women believed that abortions would generate more negative feelings and more feelings of guilt. Moreover, previous studies have reported that Israeli Jewish women compared to Israeli Moslem women would receive more social support from ones close environment in the event of termination. Israeli Moslem women tend not to terminate a pregnancy even when a malformed fetus is detected, believing that termination would result in negative feelings such as depression and guilt. Most report a preference for screening and less invasive procedures.

Keyword : Jewish women, Moslem women, Pregnancy termination, Prenatal invasive tests, Prenatal noninvasive tests