Abstract
Unwanted pregnancy and pregnancy termination generally occurs in adolescents who want to prevent or delay childbirth and have limited access to contraception. Women and girls have unmet contraceptive needs, so that unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions are considered normal. The latest data states that 7% of girls aged 15 to 19 will become pregnant and 2% of girls in this age group will have an abortion. Decision making for women before carrying out intentional abortions is influenced by several factors including individual level factors namely marital status, education level, economic independence and whether the woman is a victim of rape or incest. Interpersonal factors such as parent and partner support are also found as influences in decision making, because they have social determinants such as religion and social stigma and norms that exist. The aim of this study was to find out how adolescents make decisions about abortion as an end to unwanted pregnancies.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that unsafe abortion is a procedure to end unwanted pregnancies by medical or non-medical staff who do not have adequate skills in environment and have not met medical standards
Unwanted pregnancy and pregnancy termination usually occurs in women who want to prevent or delay childbirth and have an access to use contraception
This study shows that the main reasons for young women to have an abortion are socio-economic problems, stress or depression, and lack of support their spouse
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that unsafe abortion is a procedure to end unwanted pregnancies by medical or non-medical staff who do not have adequate skills in environment and have not met medical standards (of Reproductive Health et al, 2008). The majority of maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion occur in low-income environments that women experience low social status combined with legal and social restrictions for sexual and reproductive rights. In Kenya, the abortion with purpose and maternal mortality of unsafe abortion is higher. Individual level factors include marital status, education level, financial independence and whether the woman is a victim of rapist or incest. Interpersonal factors such as parent and partner influence the decision, because they have social determinants such as religion and social stigma and existing norms Gbagbo (2015)
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