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Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Induced Abortion among Adolescent Female Students in Selected Secondary Schools in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Tanzania.

Article scientifique 2020 Anglais

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Abstract Background:Unsafe abortion is a significant problem for adolescent female students and among a leading cause of maternal mortality globally. In Tanzania, abortion is illegal, unless under medical emergencies, thus putting female students with an unwanted pregnancy at higher risk of unsafe abortion, with severe consequences, including death. The study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of induced abortion among adolescent girls in selected secondary schools in Moshi municipality, Kilimanjaro region.Method:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 secondary school girls aged 15–19 years from April-June 2019. Eligible participants were selected by a multistage sampling technique. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software.Results:The mean age of respondents were 16.7(SD 3.7), and 50.6% (n = 173/342; mean knowledge score = 38.9 ± 1.4) had a low level of knowledge on induced abortion. More than half, 55.8% (n = 191/342; mean attitude score = 18.9 ± 1.9) had a negative attitude towards induced abortion. Only, 5.6% (n = 19/342) of respondents had induced abortion from unwanted pregnancy before. The two main reasons of induced abortion were to finish school (26.3%), and fear of parents’ reactions (26.3%).Conclusion:Respondents had poor knowledge of induced abortion and a negative attitude towards induced abortion. Poor knowledge was because of a lack of understanding of the standard definition of induced abortion. Cultural and religious factors mostly influence the negative attitude towards induced abortion. A low proportion of sexually experienced respondents reported unwanted pregnancies and induced abortion. The main reasons for induced abortion are fear of termination from the education system and fear of parents' reactions. Effective adolescent’s reproductive and sexual health intervention is warranted to prevent unwanted pregnancies in this setting.

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Kimbwereza, F., Nkya, J., Mboya, A., Njau, B. (2020). Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Induced Abortion among Adolescent Female Students in Selected Secondary Schools in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Tanzania.. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-25006/v1

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Frank Albert Kimbwereza Jesca Sael Nkya Andrew Lelo Mboya Bernard Njau

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