Prevalence estimation of self-managed abortion in Argentina: a web-based respondent-driven sampling study.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health Surveillance
• Social Epidemiology

Background:

• Abortion access in Argentina remains uneven post-legalization in 2020.
• Self-managed abortion (SMA) outside formal healthcare systems is a significant public health issue.
• Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a valuable tool for studying hidden populations and behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of self-managed abortion (SMA) outside the formal healthcare system in Argentina.
• To assess the utilization of SMA before and after the 2020 abortion legalization.
• To explore the experiences and preferences of individuals undergoing SMA.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional web-based survey using respondent-driven sampling (webRDS) was conducted from February to May 2024.
• Participants included individuals aged 16-49 years, ever pregnant, and residing in Argentina.
• The RDS II estimator was employed to generate prevalence estimates for SMA outside the formal healthcare system.

Main Results:

• The study recruited 1340 participants through seven RDS chains.
• An estimated 17.1% of participants reported ever having an abortion.
• Among those with abortion experience, an estimated 20.7% reported an SMA outside the formal healthcare system, with 24.7% occurring post-legalization.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of abortions in Argentina occur outside the formal healthcare system, persisting after legal reform.
• Findings underscore the need to address diverse needs and preferences for unintended pregnancy management.
• Web-based RDS is a feasible and effective method for studying self-managed abortion prevalence.