Induced Abortion and Its Predictors Among Hawassa University Female Students

Abstract

Global incidence of unsafe abortion among University students is increasing; and still frequent and worrisome in Universities of Ethiopia. There are a few studies on induced abortion among university students. There for this study was aimed to determine magnitude and predictors of induced abortion among Hawassa University female students. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1-15, 2019 and 741 participants were selected from Hawassa University regular undergraduate female students. For entry and analysis EPidata and SPSS was used respectively. Association between dependent and independent variables were measured by adjusted odds ratio. Variables with p <0.25 on bivariate were used for multivariable analysis and p<0.05 were considered significant. Magnitude of induced abortion among Hawassa University students was 9.6%. From the respondents 68% of them age greater or equal to 20 (AOR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.74) were less likely to have induced abortion compared to those respondents with age less than or equal to 19. Married respondents were 3.32 times (AOR=3.32, 95% CI: 1.51, 7.28) more likely to have induced abortion compared to not married respondents. From the respondents 95% of them who have heard only about short term contraceptive (AOR=1.95, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.66) were more likely to have induced abortion compared to those who have heard only about long term contraceptives. Respondents who have used methods to avoid pregnancy currently were 5.41 times (AOR=5.41, 95% CI: 2.73, 10.72) more likely to have induced abortion compared to who haven't used any method. Induced abortion among Hawassa university female student was high compared to other studies. This study showed the independent predictors of abortion among Hawassa University students were age, marital status, type of contraceptive they know and using any method to avoid pregnancy currently.