The Magnitudeof Induced Abortion and Associated Factors Among High School Teenage Girls Aged 15-19 Years in Addis Ababa City
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Date
2017-10
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Abstract
Background: - Abortion emanating from unintended pregnancy is one of the most significant
causes of maternal morbidity and mortality; it is also a major medical and public health problem.
However, there is paucity of information on high risk population groups in Ethiopia.
Objectives: - To measure the magnitude of induced abortion and identify factors associated with it
among female high school students aged 15 to 19 years in Addis Ababa.
Methods: - A mixed methods cross sectional study design was employed. The quantitative method
was conducted among 914 students. Multistage sampling technique with self administered
questionnaire was used. Data were entered into Epi data and cleaned using frequency distribution
and cross- tabulation. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14. The associations of the main
independent variables with the practice of induced abortion were first cross tabulated and those
found statistically significant with induced abortion were fitted into binary logistic regression.
Multivariable logistic regressions were fitted to control confounding. The key informant interview
was transcribed and translated. Open Code software was used to code and categorize and different
ideas in the text were merged in their categories and content analysis was done.
Results: - From the total 903 respondents 152 (16.8%) were sexually active and 129 (14.28%) of
them experience pregnancy in their life time. Ninety-two percent of the pregnancy was unwanted
and ended with induced abortion which was 119(13.17%). On the other hand, multivariate analysis
visit to religious places, learning in government school, being a daughter of private employs, having
a boy friend and seeing/reading pornography materials have showed significant association with
induced abortion with AOR (95% CI) 3.55 (1.30-9.68), 7.3(3.71-14.37), 2.33 (1.06-5.15), 46.9
(19.0-116.17), 2.01 (1.01-3.98), respectively. According to the qualitative study the main reasons
for the high prevalence of induced abortion were peer pressure, celebrating different festivals and
birth days out side home, availability of chat, shisha and grocery houses around the school, poor
family and child relationship, risky sexual behaviors low economic status, rape and birth place of
students.
Conclusion: - A considerable proportion of girls engage in sexual activity that leads to high
prevalence of induced abortion. Having a boy friend, being a daughter of private employs, going into government school and seeing/reading pornography materials played a positive role for abortion while frequent visit to religious place had a negative role. Efforts should be made to engage parents, schools and religious institutions to curb the practice of induced abortion among
high school teens
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Keywords
Abortion,morbidity and mortality