Factors associated with induced abortion over time : secondary data analysis of five waves of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health Angela J. Taft, Rhonda L. Powell, Lyndsey F. Watson, Jayne C. Lucke, Danielle Mazza and Kathleen McNamee
Material type:
ArticleSeries: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public HealthPublication details: : Wiley, 2019Subject(s): Online resources:
In: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2019, Advance online publication, 6 February 2019Summary: Objective: A trend analysis of associations with induced abortion.
Methods: Secondary analysis of the 1973/78 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health of women responding to two or more consecutive surveys out of five (N=9,042), using generalised estimating equations.
Results: New abortions dropped from 7% to 2% at surveys 4 and 5. By survey 5, 16% of respondents reported abortions, only 2% of them new. Women aged in their twenties were more likely to terminate a pregnancy if they reported less‐effective contraceptives (aOR2.18 CI 1.65–2.89); increased risky drinking (aOR1.65 CI 1.14–2.38); illicit drugs ≤12 months (aOR3.09 CI 2.28–4.19); or recent partner violence (aOR2.42 CI 1.61–3.64). By their thirties, women were more likely to terminate if they reported violence (aOR2.16 CI 1.31–3.56) or illicit drugs <12 months (aOR2.69 CI 1.77–4.09). Women aspiring to be fully‐ (OR1.58 CI 1.37–1.83) or self‐employed (OR1.28 CI 1.04–1.57), with no children (OR1.41 CI 1.14–1.75) or further educated (OR 2.08 CI 1.68–2.57) were more likely to terminate than other women.
Conclusions: Abortion remains strongly associated with factors affecting women’s control over reproductive health such as partner violence and illicit drug use.
Implications for public health: Healthcare providers should inquire about partner violence and illicit drug use among women seeking abortion, support women experiencing harm and promote effective contraception. (Authors' abstract). Record #6167
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2019, Advance online publication, 6 February 2019
Objective: A trend analysis of associations with induced abortion.
Methods: Secondary analysis of the 1973/78 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health of women responding to two or more consecutive surveys out of five (N=9,042), using generalised estimating equations.
Results: New abortions dropped from 7% to 2% at surveys 4 and 5. By survey 5, 16% of respondents reported abortions, only 2% of them new. Women aged in their twenties were more likely to terminate a pregnancy if they reported less‐effective contraceptives (aOR2.18 CI 1.65–2.89); increased risky drinking (aOR1.65 CI 1.14–2.38); illicit drugs ≤12 months (aOR3.09 CI 2.28–4.19); or recent partner violence (aOR2.42 CI 1.61–3.64). By their thirties, women were more likely to terminate if they reported violence (aOR2.16 CI 1.31–3.56) or illicit drugs <12 months (aOR2.69 CI 1.77–4.09). Women aspiring to be fully‐ (OR1.58 CI 1.37–1.83) or self‐employed (OR1.28 CI 1.04–1.57), with no children (OR1.41 CI 1.14–1.75) or further educated (OR 2.08 CI 1.68–2.57) were more likely to terminate than other women.
Conclusions: Abortion remains strongly associated with factors affecting women’s control over reproductive health such as partner violence and illicit drug use.
Implications for public health: Healthcare providers should inquire about partner violence and illicit drug use among women seeking abortion, support women experiencing harm and promote effective contraception. (Authors' abstract). Record #6167