Factors Associated with Induced Abortion among Women in Hohoe, Ghana

Charity V . Mote, Easmon Otupiri, Michelle J. Hindin

Abstract

In Hohoe, Ghana, induced abortion is the second highest cause of hospital admissions. We aimed to describe factors influencing induced abortion among 408 randomly selected women aged 15-49 years. 21% of the women had had an abortion; of those, 36% said they did not want to disrupt their education or employment; 66% of the abortions were performed by doctors. Bivariate logistic regression showed that compared with women with secondary education, women with basic education (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.180.54) and uneducated women (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.70) were significantly less likely to have had an abortion. Women who were married (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.10-3.04), peri-urban residents (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 0.95-3.94), and women with formal employment (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 0.86-5.45) were more likely to have had an abortion. Stakeholders should improve access to effective contraception to lower the chance of needing an abortion and target education programmes at those with unmet need for contraception (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 115-121).

 

Résumé

 

Facteurs liés à l’avortement déclenché chez les femmes à Hohoe, Ghana. A Hohoe, au Ghana, l’avortement déclenché constitue la deuxième cause principale des admissions hospitalières.  Nous avions comme objectif de décrire les facteurs qui influent sur l’avortement déclenché chez 408 femmes âgées de 15 à 49 ans qui ont été sélectionnées au hasard.  Vingt-et-un pourcent des femmes ont eu un avortement ; parmi elles, 36% ont dit qu’elles ne voulaient pas interrompre leur éducation ou leur emploi ; 66% des avortements ont été réalisé par les médecins.  La régression logistique bi variable a révélé que par rapport aux femmes qui ont fait l’étude secondaire, les femmes qui ont une éducation de base (OR=0,31, 95% CI : 018-0,54) et les femmes illettrées (OR=0,24, 95% CI : 0,07-0,70) avaient sensiblement moins la chance d’avoir un avortement.  Les femmes mariées (OR=1,83, 95% CI : 1,10-3,04), les habitants péri- urbains (OR=1,88, 95%CI : 0,95-3,94) et les femmes qui ont des emplois formels (OR=2,22, 95% CI :0,86-5,45) avaient plus la chance d’avoir eu un avortement.  Il faut que les intéressés améliorent la contraception effective pour réduire la possibilité de demander un avortement et de viser des programmes d’éducation pour celles qui ont des besoins pour la contraception qui n’ont pas été satisfaits (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 115-121).

 

Keywords: Induced abortion, age, marital status, education, residence, employment, Hohoe  

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