Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in India
Introduction Unsafe abortion is a preventable cause of maternal mortality. While studies report high number of abortions in India, the population-level rates of unsafe abortion and their risk factors are not well understood. Our objective was to analyse the rates of and risk factors for unsafe abort...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2019-06-01
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| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
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| author | Saswati Sanyal Choudhury Anjali Rani Manisha Nair Ryo Yokoe Farzana Zahir |
| author_facet | Saswati Sanyal Choudhury Anjali Rani Manisha Nair Ryo Yokoe Farzana Zahir |
| author_sort | Saswati Sanyal Choudhury |
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| description | Introduction Unsafe abortion is a preventable cause of maternal mortality. While studies report high number of abortions in India, the population-level rates of unsafe abortion and their risk factors are not well understood. Our objective was to analyse the rates of and risk factors for unsafe abortion and abortion-related maternal death in India.Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 1 876 462 pregnant women aged 15–58 years from nine states in the Indian Annual Health Survey (2010–2013). We calculated the rate of unsafe abortion and abortion-related mortality with 95% CI. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, health seeking behaviours and family planning with unsafe abortion and abortion-related mortality.Results There were 89 447 abortions among 1 876 462 pregnant women in 2007–2011 (4.8%; 95% CI 4.8 to 4.9). Of these, 58 266 were classified as unsafe (67.1%; 95% CI 66.7 to 67.5). There were 253 abortion-related maternal deaths (0.3%; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.3). Factors associated with unsafe abortion: maternal age 20–24 years (adjusted OR (aOR): 1.13; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.18), illiteracy (aOR: 1.48; 95% CI 1.39 to 1.59), rural residence (aOR: 1.26; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.32), Muslim religion (aOR: 1.16; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.22), Schedule caste social group (aOR: 1.08; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.12), poorest asset quintile (aOR: 1.45; 95% CI 1.38 to 1.53), antenatal care (aOR: 0.69; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.72), no surviving children (aOR: 1.30; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.46), all surviving children being female (aOR: 1.12; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.17), use of family planning methods (aOR: 0.69; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.71). Factors associated with abortion-related deaths: maternal age 15–19 (aOR: 7.79; 95% CI 2.73 to 22.23), rural residence (aOR: 3.28; 95% CI 1.76 to 6.11), Schedule tribe social group (aOR: 4.06; 95% CI 1.39 to 11.87).Conclusion Despite abortion being legal, the high estimated prevalence of unsafe abortion demonstrates a major public health problem in India. Socioeconomic vulnerability and inadequate access to healthcare services combine to leave large numbers of women at risk of unsafe abortion and abortion-related death. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a33c544b7e2d4eb5bd6f7d744fdaabd62024-12-15T09:25:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082019-06-014310.1136/bmjgh-2019-001491Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in IndiaSaswati Sanyal Choudhury0Anjali Rani1Manisha Nair2Ryo Yokoe3Farzana Zahir4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, IndiaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Banaras Hindu University Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKNuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, IndiaIntroduction Unsafe abortion is a preventable cause of maternal mortality. While studies report high number of abortions in India, the population-level rates of unsafe abortion and their risk factors are not well understood. Our objective was to analyse the rates of and risk factors for unsafe abortion and abortion-related maternal death in India.Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 1 876 462 pregnant women aged 15–58 years from nine states in the Indian Annual Health Survey (2010–2013). We calculated the rate of unsafe abortion and abortion-related mortality with 95% CI. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, health seeking behaviours and family planning with unsafe abortion and abortion-related mortality.Results There were 89 447 abortions among 1 876 462 pregnant women in 2007–2011 (4.8%; 95% CI 4.8 to 4.9). Of these, 58 266 were classified as unsafe (67.1%; 95% CI 66.7 to 67.5). There were 253 abortion-related maternal deaths (0.3%; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.3). Factors associated with unsafe abortion: maternal age 20–24 years (adjusted OR (aOR): 1.13; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.18), illiteracy (aOR: 1.48; 95% CI 1.39 to 1.59), rural residence (aOR: 1.26; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.32), Muslim religion (aOR: 1.16; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.22), Schedule caste social group (aOR: 1.08; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.12), poorest asset quintile (aOR: 1.45; 95% CI 1.38 to 1.53), antenatal care (aOR: 0.69; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.72), no surviving children (aOR: 1.30; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.46), all surviving children being female (aOR: 1.12; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.17), use of family planning methods (aOR: 0.69; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.71). Factors associated with abortion-related deaths: maternal age 15–19 (aOR: 7.79; 95% CI 2.73 to 22.23), rural residence (aOR: 3.28; 95% CI 1.76 to 6.11), Schedule tribe social group (aOR: 4.06; 95% CI 1.39 to 11.87).Conclusion Despite abortion being legal, the high estimated prevalence of unsafe abortion demonstrates a major public health problem in India. Socioeconomic vulnerability and inadequate access to healthcare services combine to leave large numbers of women at risk of unsafe abortion and abortion-related death.https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/3/e001491.full |
| spellingShingle | Saswati Sanyal Choudhury Anjali Rani Manisha Nair Ryo Yokoe Farzana Zahir Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in India BMJ Global Health |
| title | Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in India |
| title_full | Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in India |
| title_fullStr | Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in India |
| title_short | Unsafe abortion and abortion-related death among 1.8 million women in India |
| title_sort | unsafe abortion and abortion related death among 1 8 million women in india |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/3/e001491.full |
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