Characteristics of Induced Abortion in a Sample of Albanian Women

Although abortion on demand is legal in Albania since 1995, abortion is widely under-reported. While under-reporting of abortions in surveys is widespread in different contexts because of the stigma, in the case of Albania under-reporting is very significant, due to induced abortions performed illegally until 1995, the reluctance to report abortion in a patriarchal society and the late implementation of national surveys in 2007. This study reports sociodemographic data of women who had induced abortions, as well as reasons to terminate pregnancy.

The sample consisted of 186 Albanian women, who had at least one lifetime induced abortion. Data from a survey were used to describe the rates of abortions by respondent characteristics, particularly age at abortion, marital status, residence, education, socio-economic status, number of abortions, gestational age, circumstances of pregnancy and reasons for abortion.

There is a high rate of women who have had more than one abortion in this sample. Out of the 291 abortions in total, 62% of the sample had one abortion, 25% two abortions and 13% three to six abortions. Married women obtained a substantial proportion of abortions (70%). The highest proportion of first abortion occurred among women aged 20-29.

Social factors played a significant role in the decision-making process for women considering an abortion. 45% of the sample was unemployed and a further one quarter had low-paid jobs. Financial constraints, interference with life aims, family size and unwillingness to be a single mother in an unstable relationship featured strongly in women accounts of why they needed to abort. 3% of women stated sex-selection reason behind decision for abortion. Women disclosed having experienced domestic violence (24%) and sexual abuse (4%), which should be further explored as a co-occurring risk associated with unintended pregnancy.