Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul 1:6:1535329.
doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2025.1535329. eCollection 2025.

The magnitude of second-trimester induced abortion and associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Maru Mekie  1 , Setegn Muche Fenta  2 , Wassie Yazie Ferede  1 , Enyew Dagnew Yehuala  1 , Eyaya Habtie Dagnaw  1 , Alemu Degu Ayele  1 , Temesgen Dessie Mengistu  1 , Belaynew Alemye Mengistie  3 , Selamawit Girma Tadesse  1 , Dagne Addisu  1
Affiliations

The magnitude of second-trimester induced abortion and associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Maru Mekie et al. Front Glob Womens Health. .

Abstract

Background: Even though Ethiopia has a non-restrictive abortion law, abortion complications are one of the top five maternal morbidity and mortality causes in the country. Most women visit health facilities for pregnancy termination at second-trimester which leads to higher abortion-related complications than first-trimester abortion. There is no national evidence regarding the level of second-trimester-induced abortion in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the magnitude of second-trimester induced abortion and its determinant factors.

Methods: Online searches using different online bases such as PubMed, HINARI, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and University digital libraries were conducted to identify candidate studies to be included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of studies to be included in this review. Data extraction and analysis were performed using Microsoft Excel and Stata 17 software respectively. The heterogeneity of studies was assessed using Cochran (Q test) and I2 test statistics. We assessed publication bias using a funnel plot and Egger's regression asymmetry test.

Results: Eight studies with a total study population of 3,659 were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of second-trimester induced abortion was 25.96% (95%, CI 14.42%, 37.49%) in Ethiopia. The finding of this systematic review indicated that being single [(OR = 5.20, 95%, CI 3.04, 8.90), I 2 = 0.00%, p = 0.69], delay in the diagnosis of pregnancy [(OR = 3.01, 95%, CI 1.23, 7.38), I 2 = 80.74%, p = 0.01], no formal/low education level [(OR = 3.54, 95%. CI 1.84, 6.78), I 2 = 69.71, 57.15%, p = 0.04], and being rural resident [(OR = 2.16, 95%, CI 1.61, 2.92), I 2 = 0.00%, p = 0.53] were factors significantly associated with second trimester induced abortion in Ethiopia.

Conclusion: The prevalence of second-trimester abortion was found to be high in Ethiopia. Being single, delay in the diagnosis of pregnancy, having no formal/low education level, and being rural residents were factors significantly associated with second-trimester induced abortion in Ethiopia. Enhancing the sexual and reproductive health literacy of reproductive-age women as well as access to safe abortion services are relevant measures to be taken to reduce late visits to health institutions for abortion services.

Keywords: Ethiopia; associated factors; induced abortion; review - systematic; second trimester.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow chart indicating study inclusion and exclusion for systematic review and meta-analysis second trimester induced abortion in Ethiopia.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The pooled prevalence of second-trimester-induced abortion in Ethiopia.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sensitivity analysis of included studies to estimate the pooled prevalence second trimester induced abortion in Ethiopia.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Subgroup analysis of burden of second trimester induced abortion in Ethiopia based on regions.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Subgroup analysis of burden of second-trimester abortion based on sample category in Ethiopia.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Funnel plot to assess publication bias of included studies in the meta-analysis of second-trimester induced abortion in Ethiopia.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Forest plot of factors associated with second-trimester induced abortion in Ethiopia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Central Statistical Agency (CSA) [Ethiopia] and ICF. Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: CSA and ICF; (2016).
    1. Singh S, Remez L, Sedgh G, Kwok L, Onda T. Abortion worldwide uneven progress and unequal access. (2017). Avaliable at: https://www.guttmacher.org/report/abortion-worldwide-2017 (Accessed February 16, 2024).
    1. Moore AM, Gebrehiwot Y, Fetters T, Wado YD, Bankole A, Singh S, et al. The estimated incidence of induced abortion in Ethiopia, 2014: changes in the provision of services since 2008. Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health. (2016) 42(3):111. 10.1363/42e1816 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Family Planning 2017 - Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/414). (2017).
    1. Moore AM, Gebrehiwot Y, Fetters T, Wado YD, Bankole A, Singh S, et al. User fee exemption policy significantly improved adherence to maternal health service utilization in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study. Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. (2023) 15:775–85. 10.2147/CEOR.S431488 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources