Abortion care seeking in India: patterns and predictors

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Reproductive Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Unsafe abortions are a major global cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding factors influencing healthcare facility choice is crucial for improving abortion safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how socio-demographic and economic characteristics influence women's choice of healthcare facility for abortion in India.
• To identify key predictors of healthcare facility selection for induced abortions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2015-16 Indian National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-4).
• Included 6,876 women aged 15-49 who underwent induced abortion in the preceding five years.
• Employed bivariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression to identify facility choice predictors.

Main Results:

• Women predominantly chose private facilities for abortion care, regardless of age, distance, or financial constraints.
• The likelihood of opting for a private facility increased with women's age, gestational age, and wealth quintile.
• Significant variations in healthcare facility choice for abortion were observed across different socioeconomic characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Socioeconomic status is a significant determinant in the choice of healthcare facility for abortion in India.
• Disparities in access to safe abortion services exist, influenced by women's socioeconomic profiles.
• Further research is needed to address these variations and improve equitable access to safe abortion care.