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

Abstract

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.

Socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics of clients that accepted contraceptives at abortion center at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), Johannesburg, South Africa: a cross-sectional study (January-July 2021)

“…While about one-fifth of our participants were teenagers, we found that almost half of the participants were younger than 25 years. This age pattern is consistent with reports from other studies that showed that women aged 20-29 years have the highest induced abortion prevalence in most countries [ 22 ]. However, Benson et al .…”

Pre- and intra -COVID-19 trends of contraceptive use among women who had termination of pregnancy at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg South Africa (2010–2020)

“…Closely followed by the women aged 19–25 years (38.22%). This finding supports studies that women aged 20–29 years have the highest proportion of abortions in most countries [ 18 ]. It is worthy of note that teenagers younger than 19 years constituted about 10% of the abortion seekers among our cohort.…”

Predictors of Pregnancy Termination among Young Women in Ghana: Empirical Evidence from the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey Data

“…The abortion law, which was passed in 1985, states that an abortion performed by a professional medical practitioner is legal if the pregnancy is induced by rape, incest, or defilement of a "female idiot"; if continuing the pregnancy will endanger the woman's life or her physical or mental health; or if there is a significant risk that the child will suffer from a severe physical abnormality or disease. Despite the relatively liberal nature of the law in Ghana, unsafe abortions remain a major social and public health issue in the country [27][28][29][30]. According to available data, only 12% of abortions in Ghana are conducted under the guidance of a qualified medical practitioner, with the remaining 88% occurring in unsafe conditions [31].…”