Abstract
Intimate partner violence has been associated with numerous consequences for women, including pregnancy termination. This study aimed to examine the association between intimate partner violence and pregnancy termination among adolescent girls and young women in 25 sub-Saharan African countries. Data for this study was obtained from the demographic and health surveys of 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, published between 2010 and 2019. A total of 60,563 adolescent girls and young women were included in this study. Binary logistic regression models were used in analyzing the data and the results were presented as crude odds ratios (CORs) and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) at 95% confidence interval (CI). The prevalence of intimate partner violence and pregnancy termination among adolescent girls and young women in the 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa were 19% and 10.1% respectively. In all these countries, the odds of pregnancy termination was higher among adolescent girls and young women who had ever experienced intimate partner violence, compared to those who had never experienced intimate partner violence [COR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.51–1.71], and this persisted after controlling for confounders [AOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.48–1.68]. However, across countries, intimate partner violence had significant association with pregnancy termination among adolescent girls and young women in Angola, Chad, Congo DR and Gabon (Central Africa); Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D'lvoire, Gambia and Mali (West Africa); Comoros, Rwanda and Uganda (East Africa); and Malawi and Zambia (Southern Africa). The findings imply that reducing pregnancy termination among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa depends on the elimination of intimate partner violence. Thus, policies and programmes aimed at reducing pregnancy termination among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa, should pay particular attention to those who have history of intimate partner violence.
Highlights
Each pregnancy puts a woman at risk of death, but the propensity of maternal mortality is higher among women whose pregnancies are terminated either through induced abortions, miscarriages or stillbirths, compared to women who have live births (Mosfequr Rahman, 2015; Mizanur Rahman, DaVanzo, & Razzaque, 2010)
Pregnancy termi nation was higher among AGYW who had ever experienced intimate partner violence (IPV)
In all the 25 countries considered in this study, the odds of pregnancy termination was higher among AGYW who had ever experienced IPV [crude odds ratios (CORs) = 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.51–1.71], and this persisted after controlling for the covariates [adjusted odds ratios (AORs) = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.48–1.68]
Summary
Each pregnancy puts a woman at risk of death, but the propensity of maternal mortality is higher among women whose pregnancies are terminated either through induced abortions, miscarriages or stillbirths, compared to women who have live births (Mosfequr Rahman, 2015; Mizanur Rahman, DaVanzo, & Razzaque, 2010). Re fers to any conception that does not result in a live birth due to direct action taken with the intention to terminate the pregnancy (MacQuarrie, Mallick, & Kishor, 2016). This can be safe or unsafe (Rigterink, Saftlas, & Atrash, 2013). The World Health Organisation defines stillbirth as the death of the foetus in the uterus before birth, at or after 28-week gestational age (World Health Organisation, 2020). Miscarriage has been defined as fetal death that occurs spontaneously prior to the 28th week of gestation (Frederiksen et al, 2018)
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