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Factors Associated with Abortion‐Seeking and Obtaining a Safe Abortion in Ghana
Author(s) -
Sundaram Aparna,
Juarez Fatima,
Bankole Akinrinola,
Singh Susheela
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
studies in family planning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1728-4465
pISSN - 0039-3665
DOI - 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2012.00326.x
Subject(s) - abortion , unsafe abortion , medicine , abortion law , environmental health , developing country , reproductive health , population , family planning , socioeconomics , economic growth , pregnancy , research methodology , sociology , economics , genetics , biology
Although Ghana's abortion law is fairly liberal, unsafe abortion and its consequences remain among the largest contributors to maternal mortality in the country. This study analyzes data from the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey to identify the sociodemographic profiles of women who seek to induce abortion and those who are able to obtain safe abortion services. We hypothesize that women who have access to safe abortion will not be distributed randomly across different social groups in Ghana; rather, access will be influenced by social and economic factors. The results confirm this hypothesis and reveal that the women who are most vulnerable to unsafe abortions are younger, poorer, and lack partner support. The study concludes with policy recommendations for improving access to safe abortion for all subgroups of women, especially the most vulnerable.