scholarly journals Predictors of Unsafe Induced Abortion among Women in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Boah ◽  
Stephen Bordotsiah ◽  
Saadogrmeh Kuurdong
Keyword(s):  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Unsafe Abortion ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Maternal Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancies

Background. Unsafe induced abortion is a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality in Ghana. Objective. This study aimed to explore the predictors of unsafe induced abortion among women in Ghana. Methods. The study used data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey. The association between women’s sociodemographic, obstetric characteristics, and unsafe induced abortion was explored using logistic regression. The analysis involved a weighted sample of 1880 women aged 15-49 years who induced abortion in the period 2012-2017. Analysis was carried out using STATA/IC version 15.0. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05. Results. Of the 1880 women, 64.1% (CI: 60.97-67.05) had an unsafe induced abortion. At the univariate level, older women (35-49 years) (odds ratio=0.50, 95% CI: 0.28-0.89) and married women (odds ratio=0.61, 95% CI:0.44-0.85) were less likely to have an unsafe induced abortion while women who did not pay for abortion service (odds ratio=4.44, 95% CI: 2.24-8.80), who had no correct knowledge of the fertile period (odds ratio =1.47, 95% CI: 1.10-1.95), who did not know the legal status of abortion in Ghana (odds ratio =2.50, 95% CI: 1.68-3.72) and who had no media exposure (odds ratio =1.34, 95% CI: 1.04-1.73) had increased odds for an unsafe induced abortion. At the multivariable level, woman’s age, payment for abortion services, and knowledge of the legal status of abortion in Ghana were predictors of unsafe induced abortion. Conclusion. Induced abortion is a universal practice among women. However, unsafe abortion rate in Ghana is high and remains an issue of public health concern. We recommend that contraceptives and safe abortion services should be made available and easily accessible to women who need these services to reduce unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion rates, respectively, in the context of women’s health. Also, awareness has to be intensified on abortion legislation in Ghana to reduce the stigma associated with abortion care seeking.

scholarly journals Inequities in the incidence and safety of abortion in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e001814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne O Bell ◽  
Elizabeth Omoluabi ◽  
Funmilola OlaOlorun ◽  
Mridula Shankar ◽  
Caroline Moreau
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Unsafe Abortion ◽  
Background Characteristics ◽  
Medication Abortion ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Abortion Incidence

BackgroundWe know little about the frequency, correlates and conditions under which women induce abortions in Nigeria. This study seeks to estimate the 1-year induced abortion incidence and proportion of abortions that are unsafe overall and by women’s background characteristics using direct and indirect methodologies.MethodsData for this study come from a population-based, nationally representative survey of reproductive age women (15–49) in Nigeria. Interviewers asked women to report on the abortion experiences of their closest female confidante and themselves. We adjusted for potential biases in the confidante data. Analyses include estimation of 1-year induced abortion incidence and unsafe abortion, as well as bivariate and multivariate assessment of their correlates.ResultsA total of 11 106 women of reproductive age completed the female survey; they reported on 5772 confidantes. The 1-year abortion incidence for respondents was 29.0 (95% CI 23.3 to 34.8) per 1000 women aged 15–49 while the confidante incidence was 45.8 (95% CI 41.0-50.6). The respondent and confidante abortion incidences revealed similar correlates, with women in their 20s, women with secondary or higher education and women in urban areas being the most likely to have had an abortion in the prior year. The majority of respondent and confidante abortions were the most unsafe (63.4% and 68.6%, respectively). Women aged 15–19, women who had never attended school and the poorest women were significantly more likely to have had the most unsafe abortions.ConclusionResults indicate that abortion in Nigeria is a public health concern and an issue of social inequity. Efforts to expand the legal conditions for abortion in Nigeria are critical. Simultaneously, efforts to increase awareness of the availability of medication abortion drugs to more safely self-induce can help mitigate the toll of unsafe abortion-related morbidity and mortality.

scholarly journals A Model for Predicting Unsafe Induced Abortion among Women in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-505
Author(s):  
Anup Kumar ◽  
Jai Kishun
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Maternal Morbidity ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Unsafe Abortion ◽  
Maternal Morbidity And Mortality

Background: Unsafe abortion is one of the major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Approximately 15.6 million abortions take place every year in India of which a significant proportion is unsafe. Objective: To explore risk factors associated with unsafe induced abortion. Method: National Family Health Survey-IV data have 82,369 women aged between 15-49 years who responded about their aborted /miscarriage/stillbirth is used. Out of these total women, 8,878 were induced aborted and found eligible. Result: Of the total induced aborted, 30.6% of women are unsafe induced abortion. Women age between 35-49 years are 53% more likely to have unsafe induced abortion than age between 15-19 years. Women living in rural areas have 26% less likely to unsafe abortion than women living in urban areas. Women who have knowledge about the fertile period are 35% less likely to have unsafe abortion than no correct knowledge. Unsafe induced abortion is found increasing as education and wealth index are increasing. Conclusion: Unsafe induced abortion is a large contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality.  Awareness of contraceptives use, Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) and Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) service should be increased through media exposure

scholarly journals Self-managed Abortion as a Medico-legal Intervention in Ghana: a Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Yao Gbagbo ◽  
Renee Aku Sitsofe Morhe ◽  
Emmanuel Komla Senanu Morhe
Keyword(s):  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Legal Intervention ◽  
Abortion Care ◽  
Maternal Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Comprehensive Abortion Care ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancies ◽  
Good Potential ◽  
Implementation Gaps

Abstract BackgroundWe examined the potential of improving self-managed abortion as a medico-legal intervention of safely and effectively resolving unwanted pregnancies in Ghana.MethodsWe undertook a systematic literature review on self-managed or self-induced abortion within the context of Ghanaian laws. We searched for studies from Advanced PubMed Central and Google Scholar and repositories of Public Universities in Ghana. With search words of self-managed or self-induced abortion and Ghanaian law, we found 13,100 papers. The search was then narrowed to studies conducted between 2015-2020 of which 22 most related papers were selected with Six (6) from the Advanced Google Scholar search, 18 from PubMed and 1 unpublished postgraduate thesis from a public university library.ResultsDespite a liberal law that supported positive and quite well-decentralized service delivery policy, standards, and protocols development on abortion in Ghana, self-induced abortion remains criminalized. Nonetheless, the longstanding practice persists with no evidence of prosecution of the person(s) found violating the law within the period under review. The use of abortifacients procured from pharmacies and chemists that are not recognized abortion care providers has become the leading method of self-induced. Conclusion Despite criminalizing self-induced abortion, Ghana’s law on abortion is fairly liberal enough to permit the development of comprehensive abortion care policy, standards, and protocols that have a good potential of supporting improved self-managed abortion to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in the country. Further studies are required for the exploration of ways of filling implementation gaps to harness the potentials of improving self-managed abortions in Ghana.

Three Delays Model applied to prevention of unsafe abortion in Ghana: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjsrh-2020-200903
Author(s):  
Mercy Nana Akua Otsin ◽  
Angela J Taft ◽  
Leesa Hooker ◽  
Kirsten Black
Keyword(s):  
Perinatal Care ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Unsafe Abortion ◽  
Provider Attitudes ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Abortion Complications ◽  
Three Delays

BackgroundUnsafe abortion is an important public health problem in Ghana, making significant contributions to the morbidity and mortality of reproductive-aged women. Although mostly used in explaining mortality associated with perinatal care, recent calls for research on induced abortion in Africa suggest that the Three Delays Model could be used to enhance understanding of women’s experiences and access to induced abortion care.MethodsWe conducted 47 face-to-face interviews with women who had experienced unsafe abortions, with formal abortion providers (abortion providers in hospitals) and with informal and non-legal abortion providers (pharmacy workers and herb sellers). Study participants were recruited from selected hospitals, community pharmacies and markets within the Ashanti region of Ghana. We drew on phenomenology to analyse the data.FindingsThe first delay (in seeking care) occurred because of women’s poor knowledge of pregnancy, the influence of religion, and as a result of women underestimating the seriousness of abortion complications. Factors including cost, provider attitudes, stigma, and the proximity of pharmacies to women’s homes delayed their access to safe abortion and resulted in their experience of the second delay (in reaching a healthcare facility). The third delay (in receiving appropriate care) was a result of hospitals’ non-prioritisation of abortion complications and a shortage of equipment, resulting in long hospital waiting times before treatment.ConclusionThis study has shown the value of the Three Delays Model in illustrating women’s experiences of unsafe abortions and ways of preventing the first, second and third delays in their access to care.

Prevalence and predictors of contraceptives use among women age (15-49) with induced abortion history in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Gazali Salifu ◽  
Mohammed Kamaldeen
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Vulnerable Population ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Widespread Access ◽  
Post Abortion

Abstract Background Abortion incidence in Ghana ranges from 27 per 1000 to 61 per 1000 women, causing major gynecological complications or problems and maternal mortality. Though, the use of modern contraceptives has been documented to be a reliable public health preventive measure towards reducing unwanted pregnancies, only 19% of women aged (15-49) with abortion history receive post-abortion contraception support. This study therefore aimed at determining the proportion and identifying predictors of contraceptives use in these underreported and vulnerable population.Methods This study used secondary data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) for the analysis. The analysis is on a weighted sample of 3,039 women aged (15-49 years) with history of induced abortion. Both descriptive and inferential methods were employed. Chi- Square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to assess statistical associations between the outcome variable and the predictors. Statistical significance was set at 95% confidence interval and p-values <0.05.Results Out of the 3039 participants, 37% (95% CI: 34.6, 38.84) used contraceptives. We identified women age, union, place of residence, knowledge of fertile period, total pregnancy outcomes, and region as strong significant (95% CI p<0.005) predictors of post induced abortion contraceptives use.Conclusion Contraceptives use among this vulnerable population is low. Therefore, there is the need to provide widespread access to post-abortion contraception services and enhance efforts to efficiently integrate the safe abortion practices law into health services in Ghana.

scholarly journals The Effects on Inappropriate Weight for Gestational Age of an SMS Based Educational Intervention for Pregnant Women in Xi’an China: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongliang Zhou ◽  
Yanfang Su ◽  
Jesse Heitner ◽  
Yafei Si ◽  
Dan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Intent To Treat

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of maternal text messages on inappropriate weight for gestational age (IWGA) in newborns in rural China. Methods: Participants were pregnant women presenting for antenatal care at a Maternal and Child Health Center in Xi’an, China during the 2013–2015 period. In total, 2115 women completed the program with follow-up information included in the final analyses. All mothers were divided into four groups, including (1) a control group that received only a few “Basic” messages, (2) a Care-Seeking (CS) message group, (3) Good Household Prenatal Practices (GHPP) message group, and (4) a group receiving all 148 text messages. The primary outcome was IWGA, including small for gestational age (SGA) and macrosomia (weighing ≥4000g at birth). Multivariable logistic regression using an intent-to-treat estimate was utilized. Results: In total, 19.5% of newborns were IWGA. The risk of IWGA was 23.0% in the control group, 19.6% in the CS group, 18.9% in the GHPP group, and 16.5% in the group with All Texts. Compared to the control group, the odds ratio of IWGA was 0.65 (0.48–0.89) for the group receiving All Texts, which remained statistically significant after performing the Holm-Bonferroni correction. The odds ratio of macrosomia was 0.54 (0.34–0.87) and 0.57 (0.36–0.49) for the Care Seeking message group and the All Texts group, respectively, with statistical significance. Conclusion: A package of free informational text messages, including advice for good household prenatal practices and care seeking, may prevent the inappropriate weight for gestational age through a protective effect on macrosomia. Advice to encourage care seeking in pregnancy may prevent macrosomia among neonates in rural China as well.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Predictors of Contraceptives Use among Women Aged (15–49 years) with Induced Abortion History in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mohammed Gazali Salifu ◽  
Kamaldeen Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Modern Contraceptives ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
History Of ◽  
Widespread Access

Background. The incidence of abortion in Ghana ranges from 27 per 1000 to 61 per 1000 women, causing gynecological complications and maternal mortality. The use of modern contraceptives and its associated factors among women aged 15–49 years have been documented. However, utilization of modern contraceptives specifically among women with induced abortion history is underreported. This study therefore aimed at determining the proportion and identifying predictors of contraceptives use in this underreported population. Methods. This study used secondary data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) for the analysis. The analysis is on a weighted sample of 3,039 women aged (15–49 years) with a history of induced abortion. Both descriptive and inferential methods were employed. The chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to assess statistical associations between the outcome variable and the predictors. Statistical significance was set at 95% confidence interval and p values ≤0.05. Results. Out of the 3,039 participants, 37% (95% CI: 34.6, 38.84) used contraceptives. We identified women’ age, union, place of residence, knowledge of fertile period, total pregnancy outcomes, and region as strong significant (95% CI, p≤0.05) predictors of post induced abortion contraceptives use. Conclusion. Contraceptives use among this vulnerable population is low. Therefore, there is a need to provide widespread access to postabortion contraception services and enhance efforts to efficiently integrate safe abortion practices law into health services in Ghana.

scholarly journals Unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Rajasthan, India: A qualitative exploration

2004 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Unsuccessful Attempt ◽  
Surgical Services ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Informal Providers ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancies ◽  
Policy Program ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

As part of a Population Council program of research on unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Rajasthan, the Council and Ibtada conducted a qualitative exploration of attitudes and behaviors regarding unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Alwar district. The study was intended to lay the groundwork for two quantitative studies on abortion undertaken subsequently in six districts of Rajasthan. The qualitative exploration shows that women, particularly those who are poor, turn to largely untrained community-level providers for abortion services. Additionally, women use home remedies in an often unsuccessful attempt to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Women with greater financial means obtain surgical services from a private gynecologist. The remaining women are left with little choice but to avail of services from informal providers that they often recognize to be unsafe and/or to carry unwanted pregnancies to term. This report encourages innovative means to improve access to legal, safe, and effective abortion services at lower levels of the public health system, and suggests that the feasibility of training certain informal providers to offer safe abortion services, particularly at early gestations, should be explored at the policy, program, and research levels.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Induced Abortion among Adolescent Female Students in Selected Secondary Schools in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Tanzania.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Albert Kimbwereza ◽  
Jesca Sael Nkya ◽  
Andrew Lelo Mboya ◽  
Bernard Njau
Keyword(s):  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Adolescent Female ◽  
Unsafe Abortion ◽  
Poor Knowledge ◽  
Kilimanjaro Region ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancies ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

Abstract Background:Unsafe abortion is a significant problem for adolescent female students and among a leading cause of maternal mortality globally. In Tanzania, abortion is illegal, unless under medical emergencies, thus putting female students with an unwanted pregnancy at higher risk of unsafe abortion, with severe consequences, including death. The study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of induced abortion among adolescent girls in selected secondary schools in Moshi municipality, Kilimanjaro region.Method:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 secondary school girls aged 15–19 years from April-June 2019. Eligible participants were selected by a multistage sampling technique. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software.Results:The mean age of respondents were 16.7(SD 3.7), and 50.6% (n = 173/342; mean knowledge score = 38.9 ± 1.4) had a low level of knowledge on induced abortion. More than half, 55.8% (n = 191/342; mean attitude score = 18.9 ± 1.9) had a negative attitude towards induced abortion. Only, 5.6% (n = 19/342) of respondents had induced abortion from unwanted pregnancy before. The two main reasons of induced abortion were to finish school (26.3%), and fear of parents’ reactions (26.3%).Conclusion:Respondents had poor knowledge of induced abortion and a negative attitude towards induced abortion. Poor knowledge was because of a lack of understanding of the standard definition of induced abortion. Cultural and religious factors mostly influence the negative attitude towards induced abortion. A low proportion of sexually experienced respondents reported unwanted pregnancies and induced abortion. The main reasons for induced abortion are fear of termination from the education system and fear of parents' reactions. Effective adolescent’s reproductive and sexual health intervention is warranted to prevent unwanted pregnancies in this setting.

Illegal Abortions and Women's Reproductive Health

1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 223-233
Author(s):  
Azim A. Khan Sherwani ◽  
M. Minhajul Haq
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Termination Of Pregnancy ◽  
Unsafe Abortion ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Women’S Reproductive Health ◽  
Women's Reproductive Health

Deliberate termination of pregnancy is called induced abortion. It may be legal or illegal (if it violates any provision of “termination law”). Illegal and unsafe abortion is a hazard for women's reproductive health. In India, a tenth of maternal deaths are due to septic abortions. We do have termination law, which only barks but does not bite. There is a need to support the campaign for legal and safe abortion to protect the hundreds of thousands of women who are silenced by their early deaths due to unsafe illegal abortions.

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