Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Abortion among Adolescent female students in selected Secondary Schools in Moshi municipality, Kilimanjaro region.

Abstract

Background: Induced abortion is an intentional termination of intrauterine pregnancy by medical or surgical means. Unsafe abortion is a serious public health problem most significant for adolescent females and one of the leading causes of maternal mortality globally. In Africa, unsafe abortion accounts for more than a quarter of causes of maternal mortality. Tanzania, where abortion is illegal, has the highest incidence of unsafe abortion. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards induced abortion among adolescent female students in four selected secondary schools in Moshi municipality, Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 secondary school girls aged 15-19 years from April to June 2019. A multistage sampling technique selected eligible participants. Semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software. 

Results: The mean age of respondents was 16.7(SD 3.7), and 50.6% (n= 173/342; mean knowledge score =38.9 ±1.4) had inadequate knowledge of induced abortion. More than half, 55.8% (n= 191/342; mean attitude score = 18.9 ± 1.9) had unfavourable attitudes towards induced abortion. Nineteen respondents had induced abortion from unplanned pregnancies. The two main reasons for induced abortion were to finish school (26.3%), and fear of parents’ reactions (26.3%).

Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the level of knowledge on induced abortion among study participants.  However, the unfavourable attitude towards induced abortion observed is mostly influenced by cultural and religious factors. Two main reasons for induced abortion were fear of termination from school and fear of parents’ reactions. Comprehensive sexuality education, contraception counselling and provision, access to post-abortion care services, and parent-daughter communication interventions may be beneficial to prevent unplanned pregnancies may be beneficial to adolescent students attending secondary schools in this setting.