Generic placeholder image

Current Women`s Health Reviews

Author(s): Shiva Raj Acharya*, Raju Sherstha, Sandip Pahari, Yong Chul Shin and Deog Hwan Moon

DOI: 10.2174/1573404817666211109151124

DownloadDownload PDF Flyer Cite As
Safe Abortion Practice and Knowledge on Abortion Legalization Among Nepalese Undergraduate Female Students

Article ID: e091121197848 Pages: 9

  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

Background: Unsafe abortion remains one of the major public health problems, especially in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge on the legalization of abortion and the practice of abortion among Nepalese undergraduate female students.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among the 490 female students of Pokhara Valley, Nepal. Study populations from the 10 colleges were selected through purposive and systematic random sampling. The semi-structured questionnaire was used as a data collection technique.

Results: Only 34% of students have a good knowledge of abortion legalization, compared to 42% who have poor knowledge. While two-thirds of the participants (66.6%) were aware that abortion is legal in Nepal, only a few were aware of the conditions for legalized safe abortion. During sexual intercourse, almost half of the participants (51.3%) did not use any form of contraception. Unintended conception was the primary cause of abortion (53.3%).

Conclusion: The level of knowledge about the abortion law, safe abortion practice, and utilization of abortion services were found to be poor. Age of the participant, autonomy level for decision making, religion, and study background were the associated factors with the level of knowledge and practice of abortion. Community-based health promotion and awareness programs focusing on the youth population should be conducted.

Keywords: Abortion, safe practice, pregnancy, female college students, abortion legalization, abortion law.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Cresswell JA, Schroeder R, Dennis M, et al. Women’s knowledge and attitudes surrounding abortion in Zambia: A cross-sectional survey across three provinces. BMJ Open 2016; 6(3): e010076.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010076] [PMID: 27000784]
[2]
Geleto A, Markos J. Awareness of female students attending higher educational institutions toward legalization of safe abortion and associated factors, Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia: A cross sectional study. BioMed Central 2015; 12(19)
[3]
Adhikari R. Knowledge on legislation of abortion and experience of abortion among female youth in Nepal: A cross sectional study. Reprod Health 2016; 13: 48.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12978-016-0166-4] [PMID: 27117480]
[4]
Bhattarai S, Subedi S, Acharya SR. Factors associated with early menarche among adolescents girls : a study from nepal. SM J Coumm Med 2018; 4(1): 1028.
[5]
Acharya SR, Bhatta J, Timilsina D. Factors associated with nutritional status of women of reproductive age group in rural, nepal. Asian Pac J Health Sci 2017; 4(4): 19-24.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.21276/apjhs.2017.4.4.6]
[6]
World Health Organization. Not Every Pregnancy is Welcome 2018. Available from: http://www.who.int/whr/2005/chapter3/ en/index3.html
[7]
Bearak J, Popinchalk A, Alkema L, Sedgh G. Global, regional, and subregional trends in unintended pregnancy and its outcomes from 1990 to 2014: estimates from a Bayesian hierarchical model. Lancet Glob Health 2018; 6(4): e380-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30029-9] [PMID: 29519649]
[8]
World Health Organization. Preventing Unsafe Abortion 2018. Available from: http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preventing-unsafe-abortion [Cited 15 April 2018]
[9]
Puri M, Singh S, Sundaram A, Hussain R, Tamang A, Crowell M. Abortion incidence and unintended pregnancy in nepal. Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2016; 42(4): 197-209.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1363/42e2116] [PMID: 28825899]
[10]
Government of Nepal. Ministry of health and population, department of health services. Annual report 2018. Available from: https://dohs.gov.np/annual-report-2074-75/ [Cited 15 March 2018]
[11]
Ministry of Health and Population. Nepal Demographic and Health Survey: key findings. 2016. Available from: https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR336/FR336.pdf [Cited 15 March 2018].
[12]
Raj Acharya S, Kumar Ray A. Prevalence and root cause of uterine prolapse in married woman with reproductive-aged (MWRA) at VDC level in nepal. Austin J Public Health Epidemiol 2017; 4(3): 1064.
[13]
Acharya SR, Pandey A. Place of delivery and newborn care practices in a village of Kaski district: A cross sectional study from Nepal. J Biomed Sci 2014; 1(2): 6-11.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jbs.v1i2.11863]
[14]
Acharya SR, Poudel S. Factors associated with maternal and neonatal health care practices : A study from nepal. Int J Health Sci Res 2019; 10(2): 186-92.
[15]
Acharya SR, Adhikari S, Pahari S, et al. Malnutrition and associated factors with nutritional status among orphan children: an evidence-based study from Nepal. Int J Child Health Nutr 2020; 9(3): 125-32.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2020.09.03.4]
[16]
Acharya SR. Utilization pattern of personal protective equipment’s among industrial workers of Nawalparasi, Nepal. Health Prospect-Journal of Public Health 2014; 13(2): 24-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hprospect.v13i2.11833]
[17]
Banstola S, Acharya SR, Shin YC. Health problems among child labour in the brick industries of Nepal. Austin J Public Health Epidemiol 2019; 6(1): 1083.
[18]
Acharya SR, Moon DH, Shin YC. Assessment of VOCs, PM10, and formaldehyde exposure in the hair salons of South Korea. J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2020; 5(4): 1103-8.
[19]
Acharya SR, Shin YC, Moon DH. COVID-19 outbreak and suicides in Nepal: Urgency of immediate action. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2021; 67(5): 606-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764020963150] [PMID: 32985316]
[20]
Baral S, Moon DH, Shin YC, et al. Perception of food hygiene and nutritive value of the food. Korean Jo Food & Health Converge 2020; 6(4): 1-6.
[21]
Acharya SR, Pahari S, Moon DH, Shin YC. Junk food consumption, perceptions and associated factors among the private school children. Curr Nutr Food Sci 2021; 17(6): 634-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573401317666210208115732]
[22]
Pokharel S, Acharya SR, Pahari S, Moon DH, Shin YC. Utilization of healthcare services and healthcare expenditure patterns in the rural households of Nepal. Asia Pacific J Health Manageme 2021; 16(1): 86-94.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v16i1.479]
[23]
Acharya SR, Suman BK, Pahari S, Shin YC, Moon DH. Prevalence of abuse among the elderly population of Syangja, Nepal. BMC Public Health 2021; 21(1): 1348.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11417-0] [PMID: 34233660]
[24]
Sharma P, Pahari S, Acharya SR, Moon Dh, Shin YC. Tobacco consumption and its associated factors among Nepalese students. Open Public Health J 2021; 14: 446-54.
[25]
Bhattarai S, Acharya A. Assessment of the level of knowledge regarding safe abortion among reproductive age group women, a short cross sectional study in Lekhnath, Kaski. J Inst Med 2017; 19(1): 105-9.
[26]
Khanal P, Sanjel K, Chalise HN. Knowledge and practice of abortion among women in Nepal. Asia-Pacific E-J Health Social Sci 2014; 3(1)
[27]
Stillman M, Frost JJ, Singh S, Moore AM, Kalyanwala S. Abortion in India: A literature review. New York: Guttmacher Institute 2014; p. 22.