Barriers to safe abortion care among internally displaced persons in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia face significant barriers to safe abortion care, influenced by socio-cultural, economic, and structural factors, alongside widespread sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). A cross-sectional study was conducted in four IDP camps in the Amhara and Oromia regions from April to July 2024, involving 1,452 randomly selected women. SGBV was reported by 16.6%, with 36.9% of cases perpetrated by security forces. Of the participants, 5.8% had undergone abortion, and 1.7% had induced abortions in the camps. Fewer than half of women in IDP camps reported using a contraceptive method (41.7%), though 80.7% also reported that they had a history of discontinuing use due to access issues. Barriers to abortion care included religious beliefs (67.7%), cultural norms (63.8%), and the lack of service awareness (56.3%). Urgent Action is Needed. We recommend that the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia and stakeholders should prioritize appropriately tailored interventions to break down barriers, improve access to safe abortion care, and address the pressing needs of women in IDP camps.