Factors associated with abortion-seeking and obtaining a safe abortion in Ghana. 2012

Aparna Sundaram, and Fatima Juarez, and Akinrinola Bankole, and Susheela Singh
Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10038, USA. asundaram@guttmacher.org

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.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007722 Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL). Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010342 Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patients' willingness to receive health care. Acceptability of Health Care,Health Care Seeking Behavior,Acceptability of Healthcare,Acceptors of Health Care,Health Care Utilization,Nonacceptors of Health Care,Patient Acceptance of Healthcare,Care Acceptor, Health,Care Acceptors, Health,Care Nonacceptor, Health,Care Nonacceptors, Health,Health Care Acceptability,Health Care Acceptor,Health Care Acceptors,Health Care Nonacceptor,Health Care Nonacceptors,Healthcare Acceptabilities,Healthcare Acceptability,Healthcare Patient Acceptance,Healthcare Patient Acceptances,Utilization, Health Care
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D005869 Ghana A republic in western Africa, south of BURKINA FASO and west of TOGO. Its capital is Accra. Gold Coast,Republic of Ghana
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000023 Abortion Applicants Individuals requesting induced abortions. Abortion Seekers,Abortion Seekers, Refused,Abortion Seekers, Repeated,Abortion Applicant,Abortion Seeker,Abortion Seeker, Refused,Abortion Seeker, Repeated,Applicant, Abortion,Applicants, Abortion,Refused Abortion Seeker,Refused Abortion Seekers,Repeated Abortion Seeker,Repeated Abortion Seekers,Seeker, Abortion,Seeker, Refused Abortion,Seeker, Repeated Abortion,Seekers, Abortion,Seekers, Refused Abortion,Seekers, Repeated Abortion
D000028 Abortion, Induced Intentional removal of a fetus from the uterus by any of a number of techniques. (POPLINE, 1978) Embryotomy,Abortion (Induced),Abortion Failure,Abortion History,Abortion Rate,Abortion Technics,Abortion Techniques,Abortion, Drug-Induced,Abortion, Rivanol,Abortion, Saline-Solution,Abortion, Soap-Solution,Anti-Abortion Groups,Fertility Control, Postconception,Induced Abortion,Previous Abortion,Abortion Failures,Abortion Histories,Abortion Rates,Abortion Technic,Abortion Technique,Abortion, Drug Induced,Abortion, Previous,Abortion, Saline Solution,Abortion, Soap Solution,Abortions (Induced),Abortions, Drug-Induced,Abortions, Induced,Abortions, Previous,Abortions, Rivanol,Abortions, Saline-Solution,Abortions, Soap-Solution,Anti Abortion Groups,Anti-Abortion Group,Drug-Induced Abortion,Drug-Induced Abortions,Embryotomies,Failure, Abortion,Failures, Abortion,Group, Anti-Abortion,Groups, Anti-Abortion,Histories, Abortion,History, Abortion,Induced Abortions,Postconception Fertility Control,Previous Abortions,Rate, Abortion,Rates, Abortion,Rivanol Abortion,Rivanol Abortions,Saline-Solution Abortion,Saline-Solution Abortions,Soap-Solution Abortion,Soap-Solution Abortions,Technic, Abortion,Technics, Abortion,Technique, Abortion,Techniques, Abortion
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

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