Knowledge About The Revised Abortion Legislation Among Reproductive Age Women: The Case Of Gondar Town

Abstract

Background-Experience from around the world shows that restrictive abortion laws lead women to have unsafe abortions, in
turn contributing to over one-tenth of maternal deaths in developing countries. Even when safe, legal abortion services are
available, women who lack accurate information about the relevant laws may seek unsafe abortions because they do not know
they are eligible for the service or do not know the legal requirements for obtaining an abortion. Research in several countries
has found that public knowledge about abortion law is often minimal. In Ethiopia, little is known regarding knowledge of the
revised abortion law among women of reproductive age.
Objective-This study was done with the objective of assessing the level of knowledge of reproductive age women on the legal
grounds on which abortion is permitted in Ethiopia and its associated factors.
Methods-A community based cross sectional study of reproductive age women was conducted in Gondar Town from April 15 to
25, 2010 using structured questionnaire. The systematic sampling technique was used to select the study participants.
Result- A total of 806 reproductive age women participated in the study. Only 41% of the study participants know that abortion
is legal under certain circumstances in Ethiopia. Women with secondary and higher education, those who are government employees, students, those with high income, members of a health club, those who have heard about emergency contraceptives and
who knew someone with induced abortion increased the odds of knowing the abortion legislation (p<0.05, for each factor).
Conclusion and Recommendations- The majority of the reproductive age women did not know the legal grounds for abortion
in Ethiopia. Education and public awareness raising activities are needed to help the country benefit from the legal reform.