Factors associated with induced abortion among women of reproductive age attending selected health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a case control study

Abstract

Background: There has been a significant reduction of abortion rates in high-income countries, while the rates remain unchanged in low- and middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, for example, the number of women of reproductive age seeking an induced abortion is increasing. However, there is limited information concerning the reasons why the occurrence of this procedure is increasing. Thus, this study aimed to identify factors associated with having induced abortion in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: An unmatched case-control study was conducted using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire from October to December 2017. The cases were 147 women of reproductive age who underwent abortion in a health facility or presented with complications due to induced abortion conducted outside the health facility. The controls were 295 women who came for antenatal care and who reported never having had an induced abortion. The cases were selected by consecutive sampling from nine health facilities, whereas the controls were selected by systematic sampling from the same health facilities. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed using STATA version 14 to identify factors associated with induced abortion.

Results: The mean age of cases was 26.5 ± 5.7 years, while for the controls it was 28.1 ± 4.8 years. Being unmarried (AOR = 9.6; 95% CI: 1.5-61.7), having primary (AOR = 5.3; 95% CI: 1.5-18.3) and tertiary (AOR = 5.7; 95% CI: 1.6-21.1) education, earning monthly income 100-300 USD (AOR = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.4) and > 300 USD (AOR = 0.1; 95% CI: 0.0-0.2), initiating first intercourse between ages of 15 and 19 (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI: 1.4-15.6), marrying before the age of 18 (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.3-6.7), and having two children (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI: 1.8-12.7) were independent predictors of induced abortion.

Conclusion: Family planning programs hoping to reduce the occurrence of induced abortion should specifically target unmarried women, low income, and those who have two children. The government should also work on preventing early marriage and providing sexual and reproductive health education to help adolescents delay age at first sexual experience.

Keywords: Addis Ababa; Ethiopia; Induced abortion; Women of reproductive age.