Reproductive Health Characteristics of Young Malawian Women Seeking Post-abortion Care
), Erin Pearson(2), Juliana Lunguzi(3), Hans R. Katengeza(4),
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Corresponding Author
Abstract
Abortion is illegal in Malawi except when the pregnancy endangers the mother’s life, yet complications of abortion account for the majority of admissions to gynecological wards. This study collected data on all post-abortion care (PAC) cases reporting to all PAC-providing health facilities in Malawi over a 30-day period. Of a total of 2,028 PAC clients, 20.9% were adolescents (age 10-19) and 29.6% were young adults (age 20-24). More than half of adolescents and almost 80% of young adults were married. Less than 5% of adolescents and 22.5% of young adults reported using contraception when they became pregnant. Being unmarried was associated with previous abortion and contraceptive use among young adults. These statistics indicate a high proportion of unwanted pregnancy and lack of access to modern contraception among young women. Programs to increase access to pregnancy prevention services and protect young women from unsafe abortions are greatly needed (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 253-261).
Résumé
L’avortement est illégal au Malawi sauf quand la grossesse met en péril la vie de la mère, pourtant, les complications de l’avortement sont responsables de la majorité des admissions dans les salles d’hôpitaux réservées aux cas gynécologiques. Cette étude a collecté des données sur les cas de soins d’après avortement (SAA) dont se chargent tous les établissements qui dispensent des SAA au Malawi au cours d’une période de 30 jours. Sur un total de 2028 clients de SAA, 20,9% étaient des adolescentes (âgées de 10 -19 ans) et 29,6% étaient des jeunes adultes (âgées de 20 -24 ans). Plus d’une moitié des adolescentes et presque 80% des jeunes adultes étaient mariées. Moins de 5% des adolescentes et 22% des jeunes adultes ont déclaré qu’elles utilisaient la contraception quand elles sont devenues enceintes. Le fait de ne pas être mariée était lié à l’avortement et l’utilisation ultérieure chez les jeunes adultes. Ces chiffres montrent une proportion élevée de grossesses non voulues et un manque d’accès à la contraception moderne chez les jeunes femmes. Il est très important d’avoir des programmes pour augmenter l’accès aux services de la prévention de la grossesse et de protéger les jeunes femmes contre des avortements dangereux (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 253-261).
Keywords: young adult, abortion, Malawi/epidemiology
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