Assesment Of Knowledge, Attitude Towards Abortion Legalization And Associated Factors Among Reproductive Age Women In Sululta District Oromia, Ethiopia, 2021

Abstract

Back ground: Abortion legalization is a legalization specifically addressing when a pregnant woman can have an abortion based on the circumstances of her pregnancy. Despite different measures taken, unsafe abortion still contributes the highest maternal death in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) including Ethiopia. Knowledge, attitude towards abortion legalization at community level is not well known, and almost all of the previously conducted studies were focused on students and at health facility level. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude towards abortion legalization and associated factors among reproductive age women in Sululta district, Ethiopia 2021. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was used among 421 randomly selected reproductive age women from October to November 2021. Data were collected using a pre-tested interviewer administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were entered into EPI Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 software. Results were presented using frequency tables and percentages. Binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with knowledge, attitude toward abortion legalization at 95%CI and p- value of <0.05. Results: A total of 419 respondents participated with 99.5% response rate. The study showed that only 35.1 %( 95%CI: 30.4-39.6%) had good knowledge, 62.5 %( 95%CI: 58.2-66.8%) had positive attitude towards abortion legalization. Reproductive age women who had knowledge of emergency contraception (AOR=2.21, 95%CI: 1.37-3.56); currently use contraception (AOR= 3.12, 95%CI: 1.79-5.45); have functional radio (AOR=1.96, 95%CI: 1.17-3.28) and who had positive attitude were (AOR =9.61, 95% CI: 5.35-17.24) times more likely to have good knowledge of abortion legalization. While, ever been practiced sex (AOR=3.08, 95%CI: 1.24-7.63); ever had history of abortion (AOR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.07-3.34) and having good knowledge of abortion legalization were (AOR= 9.92, 95%CI: 5.46-18.02) times more likely to have positive attitude towards abortion legalization. Conclusions: The study indicated that knowledge of reproductive age women toward abortion legalization was low but more than half of respondents had positive attitude toward abortion legalization. Knowledge of emergency contraception, currently use of contraception, functional radio and positive attitude were significantly associated with good knowledge of abortion legalization and having history of abortion, ever practice sex and having good knowledge of abortion legalization were significantly associated with positive attitude towards abortion legalization. So that , Oromia Health bureau, Oromia special zone surrounding Finfine health department and Sululta District health office should work jointly to create awareness and it`s benefits on local basis to enhance community knowledge towards legal aspects of abortion services through mass media such as radio and reading materials.