Late request for safe abortion care at a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia; the role of emotional factors: A cross-sectional study

by | Feb 7, 2022 | Published Research | 0 comments

Abraham Fessehaye Sium, Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno, Mekitie Wondafrash, Lemi Belay Tolu, Matiyas Asrat Shiferaw

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of second-trimester safe abortion care and to examine its association with emotional factors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on second-trimester safe abortion care clients from June 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire on Open Data Kit and analyzed using STATA release 15. Variables with P value <0.2 on bivariate analysis were entered for multivariable regression analysis. Odds ratio with 95%CI and P value below 0.05 were used to present the significance of study findings.

Results: The prevalence of induced second-trimester abortion among safe abortion clients was 64%. Women who had no emotional factors, who had no interpersonal problems, who were married, and who had middle or high incomes were less likely to make a late request for safe abortion care (aOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.15-0.67; aOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32-0.97; aOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17-0.77; and aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27-0.96, respectively).

Conclusion: Sixty-four percent of safe abortion-care clients made a late request (second trimester presentation) for safe abortion care. Women who had no emotional factors had a low risk of making such a late request. Likewise, married women who had no interpersonal factors and had middle or high income were at low risk of seeking safe abortion care in the second trimester.

Keywords: Michu clinic; SPHMMC; emotional factors; late abortion care request; second trimester abortion.

Click here to view the full article