Abortion experience and self-efficacy: exploring socioeconomic profiles of GHANAIAN women

Abstract

Background Unsafe abortions remain a major global public health concern and despite its prevalence, unsafe abortions remain one of the most neglected global health challenges. The proportion of women in Ghana who have experienced unsafe abortions has increased from 45% in 2007 to 62% in 2017. Given the noted consequences of (unsafe) abortions on women health, it is important to explore factors correlated with women’s abortion decisions and why they opt for safe or unsafe methods. The study also examines determinants of over 6,000 Ghanaian women’s self-efficacy in abortion decision-making, given that this is likely to affect the likelihood of future abortions. Methods Using cluster-level Geographic Information System data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey, the study provides a hot spot analysis of the incidence of abortion in the country. The study also makes use of Probit multivariate analyses also show the correlates of abortion with socio-economic factors. Results Results suggest that abortion among women is positively correlated with the absence of partners, low education levels, higher household wealth, lower parity and family size, polygyny and Christian religious background. Conclusion It is observed that the groups of women with higher abortion self-efficacy are the same groups of women who are more likely to opt for safer abortion methods, indicating some correlation, albeit indirect, between abortion self-efficacy and women’s abortion behaviors in Ghana. Relevant policy applications are adduced from these research findings.

Mass media exposure and self-efficacy in abortion decision-making among adolescent girls and young women in Ghana: Analysis of the 2017 Maternal Health Survey

“…This study also showed that adolescent girls and young women who are exposed to mass media are more likely to have self-efficacy to make abortion decisions. This corroborates other studies on the association between mass media exposure and reproductive health decision-making capacities and behaviour in Ghana [9] and other parts of SSA [22]. Specifically, Owoo, Lambon-Quayefio and Onuoha, [9] found that mass media exposure has strong association with abortion self-efficacy among women in their reproductive age.…”

“…This corroborates other studies on the association between mass media exposure and reproductive health decision-making capacities and behaviour in Ghana [9] and other parts of SSA [22]. Specifically, Owoo, Lambon-Quayefio and Onuoha, [9] found that mass media exposure has strong association with abortion self-efficacy among women in their reproductive age. The probable explanation the authors gave to this association was that women who are exposed to mass media are more likely to be exposed to "western ideas and messages that encourage independence and greater autonomy".…”

“…Self-efficacy in abortion decision-making was derived from the question 'Could you decide on your own to get an abortion? [9]. Those who answered "Yes" to this question were considered as having self-efficacy in abortion decision making whiles those who responded "No" to the question were considered as not having self-efficacy in abortion decision making.…”

“…These were age, level of education, place of residence, marital status, region, religion, ethnicity, and parity. The choice of the variables was influenced by their availability in the GMHS dataset and previous studies that found these variables to be important variables influencing self-efficacy in abortion decision-making [9,18]. Three of these variables (religion, ethnicity and parity) were recoded.…”

“…In relation to abortion decision-making, adolescent girls and young women who feel that they are able to take sole decisions on their own reproductive health may be more likely to accomplish these goals. Self-efficacy may therefore, be relevant for predicting adolescent girls and young women's future abortion-seeking behaviours [9].…”