Abortions in Ghana

dc.contributor.author	Nana Nimo, Appiah-Agyekum	en
dc.date.accessioned	2015-01-26T16:41:38Z
dc.date.available	2015-01-26T16:41:38Z
dc.date.issued	2015-01-26
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/11400/4788
dc.rights	Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες	*
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/	*
dc.source	http://hsj.gr	en
dc.subject	Abortion--Government policy--Citizen participation
dc.subject	Rural health--Ghana
dc.subject	έκτρωση
dc.subject	ανασφάλεια
dc.subject	εμπειρία
dc.subject	αυτο-προκαλούμενη
dc.subject	φοιτητές
dc.subject	Γκάνα
dc.subject	unsafe
dc.subject	experiences
dc.subject	self-induced
dc.subject	students
dc.title	Abortions in Ghana	en
heal.type	journalArticle
heal.secondaryTitle	Experiences of university student	en
heal.classification	Ιατρική
heal.classification	Γυναικολογία
heal.classification	Medicine
heal.classification	Gynecology
heal.classificationURI	http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh00006614
heal.classificationURI	http://skos.um.es/unesco6/320108
heal.classificationURI	N/A-Ιατρική
heal.classificationURI	N/A-Γυναικολογία
heal.keywordURI	http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85000199
heal.keywordURI	http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85115917
heal.language	en
heal.access	free
heal.recordProvider	Τεχνολογικό Εκπαιδευτικό Ίδρυμα Αθήνας. Σχολή Επαγγελμάτων Υγείας και Πρόνοιας. Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής	el
heal.publicationDate	2014-12
heal.bibliographicCitation	Nana Nimo A.A. (2014). Abortions in Ghana: experiences of university students. “Health Science Journal”. 8(4): 531 - 540. Available at: http://www.hsj.gr	el
heal.abstract	Background: Students in Ghana and other developing countries remain the major vulnerable group most likely to have abortions and suffer abortion stigma. However there is a dearth of empirical information on the experiences of Higher Education students on abortion needed for evidence based policies and interventions. Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore some of the key experiences of University students on abortion in Ghana so as to provide information for evidence based interventions. Methods: Data was collected from 142 students of the University of Ghana through 18 focus group discussions [FGDs]. Questions asked during the FGDs were based on a modified version of the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health’s abortion questionnaire and focused primarily on first-hand experiences of students. The results were recorded, transcribed and analysed qualitatively using the thematic analysis approach. Results: 66.9% of students had personally undergone abortion procedures with more than 50% having done so more than once. Further, majority of the abortions were self-induced and done in the first trimester of the pregnancy. Only 9.8% of students used safe abortion services despite being aware and having access to them. Quack abortion services were popular and patronised by a relatively significant number (26.1%) of students. Conclusions: Abortions, mostly unsafe, are common experiences among students. Immediate sensitization and education on the alternatives to abortions; unsafe abortions; contraception; and counselling and family planning services is necessary among students. Male partners play a significant role in the decision to abort, choice of method and also provide support during the abortion procedures; and must be actively involved in all abortion interventions among students. Particular attention and the necessary research by both state and non-state stakeholders on abortion must focus on the activities of quack abortion providers, self-induced abortions among students as well as reasons for the low utilization of safe abortion services among students in spite of their knowledge of and access to these services .	en
heal.publisher	Insight Medical Publishing	en
heal.journalName	Health Science Journal	en
heal.journalType	peer-reviewed
heal.fullTextAvailability	true