Is abortion justified to save the life or health of a woman? Evidence of public opinion from Accra, Ghana. Issue 1 (6th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rominski, Sarah D.; Bell, April J.; Yawson, Alfred E.; Nakua, Emmanuel K.; Moyer, Cheryl A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics. Volume 147:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2019-08-06
• Subjects: Abortion laws -- Attitudes toward abortion -- Ghana -- Unsafe abortion; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618
• DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.12927
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7292

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: In this study, we sought to determine to what extent the abortion law in Ghana is reflective of public opinion. Methods: In a cross‐sectional, community‐based survey, individuals in two fishing communities in Accra were interviewed about their beliefs on abortion between May and July 2016, and sociodemographic, attitudinal, and experience data were collected. Factors associated with the outcome variable (abortion is justified to save the life/health of the woman: Yes/No) were entered into a multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 508 participants completed the survey. Thirty‐nine percent (n=198) of the sample agreed that abortion was justified to save the life/health of the woman, with no significant differences in this finding when controlling for understanding of the law, gender, marital status, or personal experience of abortion in multivariate analysis. Higher education (odds ratio [OR] 1.64 [ P <0.001]) and older age (OR 1.28 [ P <0.001]) are positively associated with abortion being justified to save life/health, while those who have had an experience of unwanted sex are less likely to believe that (OR 0.60 [ P =0.029]). Conclusion: The participants held conservative views about the justification of abortion to save a woman's life and/or health. Improving access to safe abortion services will require acknowledgment of the broader social and cultural context that may make accessing such services difficult. Abstract : In a cross‐sectional survey, residents of urban Accra, Ghana, held relatively conservative views toward the justification of abortion.