Moshe, Tsegaye (2009) Female Youth Knowledge and Attitude towards Induced Abortion in Bishoftu Town, Oromia Region. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
Unsafe abortion is a preventable tragedy and is one of the neglected problems of health care in developing countries. In February 2009 a cross-sectional study was conducted in Bishoftu town Oromia Regional state to assess the knowledge and attitude of female youth aged 15-24 years towards induced abortion. The study utilized both quantitative and qualitative (FGDs) methods. A total of 708 female youth were interviewed using pre-tested questionnaire. The data were edited, and entered into a computer and analyzed using SPSS WINDOW version 15. Odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression model to control confounders in the process of examining the effects of socio-economic and demographic predictor variables on knowledge and attitude of respondents towards induced abortion. Statistical tests were done at a level of significance of p<0.05. It is found that around one –third of sexually active respondents not use contraceptives to protect themselves from unwanted/unplanned pregnancy and STDs including HIV/Aids, whereas 91.9% of them were aware of contraceptives. About one-fifth (20%) of the respondents who ever experienced pregnancy reported induced abortion, of which students, unemployed youth, housemaids and daily laborers took the highest share. Of the respondents 73% supported induced abortion upon a woman’s demand. Around 87% of the respondents were aware of health risks of unsafe abortion but only one-fifth of the respondents knew that abortion is illegal but allowed under certain circumstances in the country, Ethiopia. The majority (60.6%) believed that abortion is illegal in the country. The FGDs result made clear that most female youth believed that if Ethiopia’s current abortion law is liberalized it will have a positive effect on maternal mortality and morbidity. Since the social and cultural factors continue to shape the opinion of the people, not all the participants who reflected the above idea support induced abortion on request. Prevalence of unsafe abortion was found to be higher in the study area. 67.7% of the respondents stated unsafe abortion as a major health problem and nearly half of the respondents (48.7%) knew some one suffer or die from unsafe abortion in the study area. There was significant association between female youth knowledge and attitude of induced abortion and some socio-economic and demographic variables. The multivariate result revealed that having positive attitude towards induced abortion was higher for those female youth who were less religious, in their twenties (20-24), had secondary and above educational level(grade 9-12 and above),had no monthly income, never married, had positive attitude of contraceptive use and ever use of contraceptives.. Similarly as the multivariate result revealed female youth knowledge of unsafe abortion was higher forthose female youth who were in their twenties (20-24), had secondary and above educational level (grade 9-12 and above), living with friends and in universities, had knowledge of contraceptive and positive attitude of contraceptive use. Based on the above findings maximizing contraceptive use, increasing the public knowledge of legal rights regarding abortion, liberalizing the abortion laws, reducing the social stigma associated with sexuality and abortion and giving appropriate training for abortion care providers are recommended to reduce unsafe/illegal abortions in Ethiopia in general and in the study area in particular.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Geoffrey Obatsa |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jun 2019 11:51 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jun 2019 11:51 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/9233 |
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