Induced abortion and women's reproductive health in India

Document Type

Article (peer-reviewed)

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

Despite the intensive national campaign for safe motherhood and legalization of induced abortion (IA), morbidity from abortion has remained a serious problem for Indian women. This study examined the consequences of IA on women's reproductive health. Analysis used data of 90,303 ever-married women age 15–49 years, included in India's second National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2, 1998–99). Binary logistic regression methods were used to examine the consequences of IA on women's reproductive health. Independent of other factors, the likelihood of experiencing any reproductive health problems was 1.5 times higher (OR,1.46; 95% CI,1.33–1.60; P < 0.001) among women who had one IA and 1.9 times higher (OR,1.85; 95% CI,1.52–2.27; P < 0.001) among women who had two or more IA compared to women with no history of IA. Study suggests that IA may have negative consequences for women's reproductive health.

Language

English

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