Knowledge of Ghana’s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age
Abstract Background Modern contraceptives have been widely promoted as an effective tool for birth control. They are highly effective for preventing unintended pregnancies thereby reducing the risk of abortions, maternal morbidities, and mortalities. Abortion or planned abstinence from sexual interc...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Reproductive Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01957-8 |
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| author | Maxwell Tii Kumbeni Jeff Luck S. Marie Harvey |
| author_facet | Maxwell Tii Kumbeni Jeff Luck S. Marie Harvey |
| author_sort | Maxwell Tii Kumbeni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Modern contraceptives have been widely promoted as an effective tool for birth control. They are highly effective for preventing unintended pregnancies thereby reducing the risk of abortions, maternal morbidities, and mortalities. Abortion or planned abstinence from sexual intercourse may be perceived as alternatives to the use of modern contraceptives. The aim of this study was to assess whether knowledge of the legal status of abortion, and knowledge of the monthly fertile period, were associated with the use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Ghana. Methods We used nationally representative secondary data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey. A weighted sample of 23,466 non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years were included in the study. Pearson chi-square and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to assess the association between the independent and the outcomes variables. Sampling weight, cluster, and strata were applied at all levels of the analysis. Results More than half (55.4%) lived in urban area, 80.1% were 20 years or older, 52.2% were multiparous women, 61.9% had secondary or higher education, and 34.5% were in the lower two wealth quintiles. We found no statistically significant association between knowledge of the legal status of abortion and use of modern contraceptives, or between knowledge of the monthly fertile period and use of modern contraceptives. Women with history of an induced abortion were 1.57 times as likely to use modern contraceptives compared to those with no history [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.57, 95% CI 1.41–1.75]. Each additional increase in knowledge of a different modern contraceptive method was associated with 1.25 times increase in modern contraceptive use (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.22–1.29). Conclusions Intensifying education on modern contraceptive methods and use, especially at abortion facilities, may help improve the uptake of modern contraceptives among women in Ghana. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-512bea46a38348ceb32e73b531354f05 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1742-4755 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-512bea46a38348ceb32e73b531354f052025-02-02T12:27:22ZengBMCReproductive Health1742-47552025-02-0122111010.1186/s12978-025-01957-8Knowledge of Ghana’s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive ageMaxwell Tii Kumbeni0Jeff Luck1S. Marie Harvey2School of Nutrition and Public Health, College of Health, Oregon State UniversitySchool of Nutrition and Public Health, College of Health, Oregon State UniversitySchool of Nutrition and Public Health, College of Health, Oregon State UniversityAbstract Background Modern contraceptives have been widely promoted as an effective tool for birth control. They are highly effective for preventing unintended pregnancies thereby reducing the risk of abortions, maternal morbidities, and mortalities. Abortion or planned abstinence from sexual intercourse may be perceived as alternatives to the use of modern contraceptives. The aim of this study was to assess whether knowledge of the legal status of abortion, and knowledge of the monthly fertile period, were associated with the use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Ghana. Methods We used nationally representative secondary data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey. A weighted sample of 23,466 non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years were included in the study. Pearson chi-square and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to assess the association between the independent and the outcomes variables. Sampling weight, cluster, and strata were applied at all levels of the analysis. Results More than half (55.4%) lived in urban area, 80.1% were 20 years or older, 52.2% were multiparous women, 61.9% had secondary or higher education, and 34.5% were in the lower two wealth quintiles. We found no statistically significant association between knowledge of the legal status of abortion and use of modern contraceptives, or between knowledge of the monthly fertile period and use of modern contraceptives. Women with history of an induced abortion were 1.57 times as likely to use modern contraceptives compared to those with no history [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.57, 95% CI 1.41–1.75]. Each additional increase in knowledge of a different modern contraceptive method was associated with 1.25 times increase in modern contraceptive use (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.22–1.29). Conclusions Intensifying education on modern contraceptive methods and use, especially at abortion facilities, may help improve the uptake of modern contraceptives among women in Ghana.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01957-8Modern contraceptivesAbortion lawKnowledge of legal status of abortionKnowledge of monthly fertile periodInduced abortionGhana |
| spellingShingle | Maxwell Tii Kumbeni Jeff Luck S. Marie Harvey Knowledge of Ghana’s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age Reproductive Health Modern contraceptives Abortion law Knowledge of legal status of abortion Knowledge of monthly fertile period Induced abortion Ghana |
| title | Knowledge of Ghana’s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age |
| title_full | Knowledge of Ghana’s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge of Ghana’s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge of Ghana’s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age |
| title_short | Knowledge of Ghana’s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age |
| title_sort | knowledge of ghana s liberal abortion law and use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age |
| topic | Modern contraceptives Abortion law Knowledge of legal status of abortion Knowledge of monthly fertile period Induced abortion Ghana |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01957-8 |
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