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Factors associated with induced abortion in Nepal: data from a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional survey
Authors: Suresh Mehata, Jamie Menzel, Navaraj Bhattarai, Sharad Kumar Sharma, Mukta Shah, Erin Pearson, and Kathryn Andersen
Source: Reproductive Health, 16(1): 1-8; DOI: 10.1186/s12978-019-0732-7
Topic(s): Abortion
Country: Asia
  Nepal
Published: DEC 2019
Abstract: Background Despite the legalization of abortion services in 2002, unsafe abortion (abortion services conducted by persons lacking necessary skill or in substandard settings or both) continues to be a public health concern in Nepal. There is a lack of national research exploring the characteristics of women who choose to have an abortion. This study assessed abortion in Nepal and its correlates using data from a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional survey. Methods We employed data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Sample selection was based on stratified two-stage cluster sampling in rural areas and three-stage sampling in urban areas. The primary outcome is report of induced abortion in the 5 years preceding the survey, as recorded in the pregnancy history. All values were weighted by sample weights to provide population-level estimates. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed using STATA 14 considering cluster sampling design. Results A total of 12,862 women of reproductive age (15–49?years) were interviewed. Overall, 4% (95% CI: 3.41–4.29) reported an abortion within the last 5 years (and less than 1% had had more than one abortion during that time). A higher proportion of women aged 20–34?years (5.7%), women with primary education (5.1%), women aware of abortion legalization (5.5%), and women in the richest wealth quintile (5.4%) had an abortion in the past 5 years. Compared to women aged
Web: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12978-019-0732-7