Obstetric and psychological characteristics of women seeking multiple abortions in the region of Monastir (Tunisia): results of a cross-sectional design

BMC Women's Health

Research Article

Mohamed Soltani¹  Ines Bouanene¹  Arwa Ben Salah¹  Sana El Mhamdi¹  Imen Hlaiem¹  Saloua Hadhri²  Wahiba Maatouk² 

[1] Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia;Reproductive Health Center of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia;

关键词: Abortion, Induced;    Aged;    Contraception;    Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice;    Violence;    Mental disorders;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12905-015-0198-x

 received in 2015-01-02, accepted in 2015-05-05,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundRepeat abortion is a public health concern favored by many obstetric and social factors.The purpose of our study was to identify associated factors to repeated abortion in the region of Monastir (Tunisia). Common mental disorders (CMD) such as anxiety and depression were also evaluated in women seeking voluntary repeated abortion.MethodsWe carried out a cross sectional study between January and April 2013 in the Reproductive Health Center (RHC) of the region of Monastir in Tunisia (This study is part of a prospective design on mental disorders and intimate partner violence among women seeking abortions in the RHC).Among women referred to the RHC we selected those seeking voluntary abortion (medical or surgical method). Data on women’s demographic characters, knowledge and practices about contraceptive methods and abortion were collected the abortion day via a structured questionnaire. Data about anxiety and depression status were evaluated during the post-abortal control visit at 3–4 weeks following pregnancy termination.ResultsOf the 500 interviewed women, 211 (42.2 %; CI95% [37.88 – 46.52]) were seeking repeated abortions. Multivariate analysis showed that increased age, lower level of women school education, single status, poor knowledge about birth control methods and history of conflict/abuse by a male partner, were uniquely associated with undergoing repeat compared with initial abortion.CMD were significantly higher in women undergoing second or subsequent abortion (51.1 %) single and lower educated women. Women relating a history of conflicts/abuse report more CMD than others (30.6 % vs 20.8 %).ConclusionHealth facilities providing abortion services need to pay more attention to women seeking repeat abortion. Further studies are needed to well establish the relation between the number of abortion and the occurrence and the severity of CMD.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© El Mhamdi et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2015