Prevalence and Predictive Factors of Induced Abortion among Women in Ghana: Data Analysis of Maternal Health Survey, 2017.

Abstract

Induced abortion is a common practice for women worldwide; nevertheless, the practice of unsafe abortion rate in Ghana is in height and is a constant issue of public health concern. Objective: The main aim of the study was to identify predictive factors associated with induced abortion among women in Ghana. Methods: Ghana Maternal Health Survey data was used for this study to do an analytic cross-section study. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. The association between dependent and independent variables was explored using chi-square and logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: In this study, the prevalence of induced among the respondents was 14.8%, the prevalence was higher (25.5%) in Greater Accra Region and lower (3.2%) in Northern Region. All under-studied independent variables through chi-square analysis were associated with induced abortion with significance. However, in advance analysis through binary logistics regression model predictor factors of induced abortion in Ghana identified were; the age of the respondents’, region of orientation, religious affiliation, marital status, ethnicity, exposure to mobile phone and newspaper, and age at first sex. The logistic regression model appropriately explained the outcome variable (induced abortion) since the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test p-value was more than 0.05 (X2 (8) = 4.428, P = .817). Conclusion: The prevalence of abortion in Ghana is still high, hence the need for increase public education on contraceptive use and the adverse effects of abortion through the use of modern media can go a long way to reduce the incidence of induced abortion in Ghana.