INDUCED ABORTIONS IN PAKISTAN: EXPOSITIONS, DESTINATIONS AND REPERCUSSIONS. A QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY IN RAWALPINDI DISTRICT

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaeema Naveed ◽  
Babar Tasneem Shaikh ◽  
Muhammad Asif Nawaz

SummaryOver 2 million abortions occur annually in Pakistan, mostly in a clandestine and unsafe environment. This is an area of grave concern for the reproductive health of women. A dearth of credible data and incomplete information make the problem more difficult to address. This qualitative study was conducted in semi-urban settings in Pakistan to record perceptions and practices concerning care seeking, experiences and outcomes regarding induced abortions and post-abortion care services. Women who had had induced abortions and abortion service providers were interviewed. Unwanted pregnancies and poverty were found to be the main reasons for seeking an abortion. Moreover, the unwanted pregnancies occurred due to low use of contraceptives, mainly due to a fear or past experience of their side-effects, unfamiliarity with correct usage and perceived inefficacy of the methods, especially condoms. There is an obvious need for practical and innovative interventions to address unmet need for birth spacing through improved access to contraceptives. Contraceptive providers should be provided with up-to-date and detailed training in family planning counselling, and perhaps allowed unrestricted provision of contraceptives. As a long-term measure, improvement in access to education and formal schooling could increase young girls’ and women’s knowledge of the benefits of family planning and the risks of unsafe abortion practices. Males must be involved in all the initiatives so that both partners are in agreement on correct and consistent contraceptive use.

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-98
Author(s):  
Marina Baig ◽  
Sadia Abbas Ali ◽  
Kiran Mubeen ◽  
Arusa Lakhani

Unintended pregnancies due to low prevalence of contraceptive use in Pakistan leads to a huge burden of induced abortions. These abortions are a major cause of concern, as a majority of these abortions are performed in an unhygienic environment by untrained providers, leading to maternal morbidities and mortalities. Some of the contributing factors of unsafe abortions are lack of availability of quality services, financial barriers, stigma associated with abortion and lack of awareness about abortion law. Therefore, there is an urgent need to invest on family planning and post-abortion care services through health system strengthening approach. The proposed comprehensive strategy for actions at the individual, facility, community and policy levels can address the issue of unsafe abortion in the country.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Colin Baynes ◽  
Erick Yegon ◽  
Grace Lusiola ◽  
Japhet Achola ◽  
Rehema Kahando

Abstract Post-abortion care (PAC) integrates elements of care that are vital for women’s survival after abortion complications with intervention components that aid women in controlling their fertility, and provides an optimal window of opportunity to help women meet their family planning goals. Yet, incorporating quality family planning services remains a shortcoming of PAC services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This paper presents evidence from a mixed method study conducted in Tanzania that aimed at explaining factors that contribute to this challenge. Analysis of data obtained through client exit interviews quantified the level of unmet need for contraception among PAC clients and isolated the factors associated with post-abortion contraceptive uptake. Qualitative data analysis of interviews with a subset of these women explored the multi-level context in which post-abortion pregnancy intentions and contraceptive behaviours are formed. Approximately 30% of women interviewed (N=412) could recall receiving counselling on post-abortion family planning. Nearly two-thirds reported a desire to either space or limit childbearing. Of those who desired to space or limited childbearing, approximately 20% received a contraceptive method before discharge from PAC. The factors significantly associated with post-abortion contraceptive acceptance were completion of primary school, prior use of contraception, receipt of PAC at lower level facilities and recall of post-abortion family planning counselling. Qualitative analysis revealed different layers of contextual influences that shaped women’s fertility desires and contraceptive decision-making during PAC: individual (PAC client), spousal/partner-related, health service-related and societal. While results lend support to the concept that there are opportunities for services to address unmet need for post-abortion family planning, they also attest to the synergistic influences of individual, spousal, organizational and societal factors that influence whether they can be realized during PAC. Several strategies to do so emerged saliently from this analysis. These emphasize customized counselling to enable client–provider communication about fertility preferences, structural intervention aimed at empowering women to assert those objectives in family and health care settings, availability of information and services on post-abortion fertility and contraceptive eligibility in PAC settings and interventions to facilitate constructive spousal communication on family planning and contraceptive use, after abortion and in general.


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 780
Author(s):  
Budi Utomo ◽  
Hariyanti Hariyanti ◽  
Sabarinah Prasetyo ◽  
Robert Magnani ◽  
Sukma Rahayu

Background: In the last two decades, unmet need for family planning in Indonesia remains stagnant, and contraceptive discontinuation has increased. These two indicators describe the risk of unwanted pregnancy in a population. Therefore, this study aims to develop an accurate calculation of the unmet need for family planning in Indonesia.  Method: The study uses 2017 IDHS data to compare unmet need at survey-time and five years preceding the survey, measured by contraceptive calendar data that measured history of contraceptive use within five years preceding the survey. Unmet need at five years preceding the survey is measured by calculating the proportion of months not using contraceptive to the duration of months exposed to pregnancy in a period of 69 months. The study population is married women in Indonesia, with a sample size of 35,681.   Results: Unmet need with contraceptive calendar calculation is higher than unmet need at survey-time. A difference of 3% concerns an additional of nearly 1.6 million unwanted pregnancies. This study proves that the high number of contraceptive discontinuations is directly proportional to higher unmet need with contraceptive calendar calculation.  Conclusion: In Indonesia, with a relatively high contraceptive discontinuation rate, the calculation of unmet need using the calendar method is more precise than at survey-time method. The study results suggest the use of unmet need calendar for countries with high contraceptive discontinuation rate and provision of primary health care that is responsive to a potential unwanted pregnancy.


Author(s):  
Teng Esther Mbong ◽  
Dickson S. Nsagha ◽  
Niba Clinton Ambe ◽  
Micheal Okunlola ◽  
A. Oladokun Sina

Background: Unsafe abortion is one of the commonest causes of maternal mortality and post-abortion care services have been acclaimed as the best remedy for this situation. Yet, high maternal mortality still prevails pointing to issues with the quality of services. The paper was designed to investigate women's motives for engaging in unsafe abortion; assess women's experiences on the quality of PAC services and identify the challenges women faced in accessing PAC services in Buea. Methods: This study recruited 10 participants in Buea. Using a structured interview, data was collected on women's motives for engaging in unsafe abortion; assess women's experiences on the quality of PAC services, and identify the challenges women faced in accessing PAC services in Buea. Thematic and grounded theory analytical techniques were used to organize and interpret the data. Results: Majority of women in Buea did not use contraceptives for different reasons ranging from personal, spousal consent, ignorance, and the fear of side effects of contraceptive use. The low contraceptive use accounts highly for unwanted pregnancy cases which results in the decisions to induce. Most of these women involuntarily engage in induced abortion, highly driven by second party influence like the request from spouse/partner, disappointment from the spouse, and fear of parents’ reactions; while some occur as a result of missed abortion. The quality of PAC services received by most of these women were merely emergency treatments without proper PAC activities like family planning counseling, provision of modern contraceptive methods, linkages to other reproductive health care services. Women in Buea encounter some challenges in the use of PAC services, pains associated with the procedure, the cost, the absence of some family planning methods, the absence of counselling before PAC and above all, non constant availability of blood in the bood bank for transfusion. Conclusion: This study concluded that most women in Buea engage in induced abortion on account of the pressure to terminate an unwanted pregnancy; resulting from low contraceptives use; desire to avoid problems from their spouses/partners as well as to pursue career ambition. Moreover, the quality of PAC services offered to women in Buea was emergency treatment; void of important aspects like family planning services, linkage to other reproductive health care services, and facilitating their social reinsertion and preventing future induce abortion.


2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
EMILY EVENS ◽  
ROSE OTIENO-MASABA ◽  
MARGARET EICHLEAY ◽  
DONNA McCARRAHER ◽  
GWYN HAINSWORTH ◽  
...  

SummaryUnsafe abortion accounts for 35% of maternal mortality in Kenya. Post-abortion care (PAC) reduces maternal death and provides an opportunity to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Few studies have documented how the receipt of PAC services varies by client age. In this study, descriptive data were collected from clients, providers and eight health facilities in Kenya's Central and Nairobi provinces to examine receipt of PAC services by client age, client satisfaction and provider attitudes. Delivery of PAC treatment, pain management, HIV and STI services and violence screening did not vary by age. However, fewer youth between the ages of 15 and 24 received a contraceptive method compared with adult clients (35% versus 48%; p=0.02). Forty-nine per cent of youth reported not using a family planning method due to fears of infertility, side-effects or lack of knowledge compared with 22% of adults. Additional efforts are needed in Kenya to bolster the family planning services that young PAC clients receive and increase the uptake of contraception.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Ontiri ◽  
Lilian Mutea ◽  
Violet Naanyu ◽  
Mark Kabue ◽  
Regien Biesma ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Addressing the unmet need for modern contraception underpins the goal of all family planning and contraception programs. Contraceptive discontinuation among those in need of a method hinders the attainment of the fertility desires of women, which may result in unintended pregnancies. This paper presents experiences of contraceptive use, reasons for discontinuation, and future intentions to use modern contraceptives. Methods Qualitative data were collected in two rural counties in Kenya in 2019 from women with unmet need for contraception who were former modern contraceptive users. Additional data was collected from male partners of some of the women interviewed. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions explored previous experience with contraceptive use, reasons for discontinuation, and future intentionality to use. Following data collection, digitally recorded data were transcribed verbatim, translated, and coded using thematic analysis through an inductive approach. Results Use of modern contraception to prevent pregnancy and plan for family size was a strong motivator for uptake of contraceptives. The contraceptive methods used were mainly sourced from public health facilities though adolescents got them from the private sector. Reasons for discontinued use included side effects, method failure, peer influence, gender-based violence due to covert use of contraceptives, and failure within the health system. Five reasons were provided for those not willing to use in the future: fear of side effects, cost of contraceptive services, family conflicts over the use of modern contraceptives, reduced need, and a shift to traditional methods. Conclusion This study expands the literature by examining reasons for contraceptive discontinuation and future intentionality to use among women in need of contraception. The results underscore the need for family planning interventions that incorporate quality of care in service provision to address contraceptive discontinuation. Engaging men and other social influencers in family planning programs and services will help garner support for contraception, rather than focusing exclusively on women. The results of this study can inform implementation of family planning programs in Kenya and beyond to ensure they address the concerns of former modern contraception users.


2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 549-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
MELLISSA WITHERS ◽  
MEGUMI KANO ◽  
GDE NGURAH INDRAGUNA PINATIH

SummaryExploring fertility preferences in relation to contraceptive use can increase the understanding of future reproductive behaviour and unmet family planning needs. This knowledge can help assist women in meeting their reproductive goals. The influences on the desire for more children and current contraceptive use were examined among 1528 married women of reproductive age in an isolated community in Bali, Indonesia, using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Women who were younger, had fewer living children, had given birth in the past year and had regular access to health services were more likely to desire children. Being older, having fewer living children, not having regular access to health services, having given birth in the past year and having the desire for more children were associated with a lower likelihood of using contraception. Women with regular access to health care are more likely to desire more children, probably because they are confident in their ability to have successful birth outcomes. However, specialized clinics or family planning outreach workers may be required to reduce barriers to service utilization among some groups. The findings of this study identify key target populations for family planning, including older women and postpartum women – groups that may not perceive themselves to be at risk for unintended pregnancy. Meeting unmet need for family planning among these groups could help women meet their fertility goals, as well as reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e034675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrita Namasivayam ◽  
Sarah Lovell ◽  
Sarah Namutamba ◽  
Philip J Schluter

Objective(s)Despite substantial and rapid improvements in contraceptive uptake in Uganda, many women continue to have unmet need for contraception. As factors affecting contraceptive use are dynamic and complex, this study seeks to identify current predictors and provide effect size estimates of contraceptive use among women and men in Uganda.Study designA nationally representative cross-sectional population survey, using secondary data from Uganda’s 2016 Demographic and Health Survey. Stratified by sex, weighted bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were derived from a suite of potential predictor variables. Predictive abilities were assessed via 10-fold cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs).SettingUganda.ParticipantsAll women aged 15–49 years who were permanent residents of the selected households or stayed in the household the night before the survey were eligible to participate. In one-third of the sampled households, all men aged 15–54 years who met the same residence criteria were also eligible.Primary outcome measuresModern contraceptive use.ResultsOverall, 4914 (26.6%) women and 1897 (35.6%) men reported using a modern contraceptive method. For women and men, both demographic and proximate variables were significantly associated with contraceptive use, although notable differences in effect sizes existed between sexes—especially for age, level of education and parity. Predictively, the multivariable model was acceptable for women with AUC=0.714 (95% CI 0.704 to 0.720) but less so for men with AUC=0.654 (95% CI 0.636 to 0.666).Conclusion(s)Contemporary significant predictors of contraceptive use among women and men were reported, thereby enabling key Ugandan subpopulations who would benefit from more targeted family planning initiatives to be identified. However, the acceptable AUC for women and modest AUC for men suggest that other important unmeasured predictors may exist. Nonetheless, these evidence-based findings remain important for informing future programmatic and policy directions for family planning in Uganda.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C W Rijlaarsdam ◽  
D W M van Sambeek ◽  
L Rust

Abstract Issue/problem Unplanned and unwanted pregnancies are an important issue in public health. Especially when parents already are in complex or vulnerable situations, for example being homeless, having an addiction, serious psychiatric- or financial problems or intellectual disabilities. Although most of these parents are in contact with several professionals, family planning and contraceptives are rarely discussed. Description of the problem In 2014 a pilot programme was developed to support vulnerable adults on family planning and adequate use of contraception. In a qualitative explorative case study the pilot was evaluated. Results The pilot showed a significant increase in postponed pregnancies by using appropriate contraceptives. Over eighty percent of this population started contraception on a voluntary basis. The study showed 5 determinants influencing contraception use: responsibility, knowledge, finance, emotion and social environment. If needed, the programme played a role on all different determinants. The method of working was the key element in the success: addressing family planning and contraceptive use through an outreach practise orientated presence approach and empowerment. Another important factor for success was the collaboration between public health and medical doctors. Lessons The successful pilot became regular care for vulnerable (potential) parents in Tilburg. The pilot was replicated in two other cities, Rotterdam and Nijmegen, with similar results. In 2018-2021 the programme will be implemented nationwide with financial support of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, coordinated by GGD GHOR Nederland (the Association of GGDs (Regional Public Health Services) and GHOR-(Regional Medical Emergency Preparedness and Planning) offices in the Netherlands). Key messages ‘Pregnant not now!’ successfully supports vulnerable people with family planning and contraceptives, helping them to gain control over their future and preventing unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. The programme is unique and preventive, its innovative character is applicable in other communities in the Netherlands and possibly across Europe.


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