Why are abortions the answer? Prevalence, knowledge and attitude towards induced abortions among women attending a secondary level health care facility in Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Reenu Rajan George; Devendraakhilesh P.; Iahmo T. T.; Varun Raj P.; Kusum V. Moray; Anne George Cherian; Jasmin Helan Prasad

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20170286

Authors

Reenu Rajan George Intern, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Devendraakhilesh P. Intern, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Iahmo T. T. Intern, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Varun Raj P. Intern, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Kusum V. Moray Post graduate student in Community health, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Anne George Cherian Department of Community Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Jasmin Helan Prasad Department of Community Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20170286

Keywords:

Abortions, Contraception, Secondary level hospital

Abstract

Background: In India, from 2010 to 2011, government statistics on family welfare recorded 620,472 abortions in government-approved institutions. On the downside, a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in rural areas, found that abortions by uncertified health care personnel/in unapproved institutions were twice as many as in the approved ones (13.5 v 6.1 per 1000 pregnancies).This could be attributed to low levels of modern contraceptive use, being only 48% in 2007-08 (DLHS-3). The aim was to assess prevalence, knowledge and attitude towards induced abortions among women who attend a secondary health center, in Tamil Nadu, India

Methods: The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study, done in the Out-patient department of a secondary level health care facility in Vellore, in September 2015. The women attending the secondary level health care facility; who were then pregnant or just post-delivery and those who had greater than two years of inter-pregnancy interval; were eligible to be enrolled in the study.

Results: Only 27 out of the 175 women (15.4%) used any form of contraception. We found a rate of 72.69 abortions per 1000 married woman years in our study. Out of the 175 women, 29 (16.5%), 95% CI (10.9%, 22.1%), reported to have had at least one induced abortion; the main reason was unwanted pregnancy 22 (75.86%). Most women 116 (66.3%) had poor knowledge and attitude on induced abortions.

Conclusions: We conclude that contraceptive use should be strongly advocated to women for birth planning and prevention of unwanted pregnancy and subsequent induced abortions.

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