Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS)

Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick; Nidhi Rathod Balvant; Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini; Peter Paul Bamaalabong; Cynthia Akumanue

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11

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Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS)

Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick, Nidhi Rathod Balvant, Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini, Peter Paul Bamaalabong, Cynthia Akumanue

Published in Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 11, Issue 3)

Received: 18 April 2023 Accepted: 24 May 2023 Published: 31 May 2023

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Abstract

Young women in the universities have an independence streak and have no restraints from parents, or school authorities regarding their sex lives, and can have as much sex as desired. If they have little knowledge on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies, they can pick seed and conceive. Lack of support from partners and/or family and limited monetary support lead them to make wrong choices regarding the termination of an unwanted pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and factors hindering access to safe abortion services among female students at the U.D.S. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the U.D.S. 100 female students between the ages of 15 and 45 years were conveniently selected from a database of 187 female students. A questionnaire containing the relevant research questions related to the topic was designed using google forms, pre-tested on randomly selected 20 participants out of the total study population and subsequently self-administered to 100 female students through a web-based electronic platform. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Age distribution of study participants: 15-20 Years, 18 (18%), 21-25 Years, 67 (67%), 26-30 years, 15 (15%). Knowledge of abortion laws in Ghana: 71 (71%) Yes, 29 (29%) No. Revision of the current abortion law in Ghana: 72 (72%) Yes, 28 (28%) No. Reasons for change in abortion Laws: Infringes on basic human rights of women 89 (89%), Contents are obsolete 11 (11%). Knowledge of safe abortion methods: 95 (95%) Yes, 5 (5%) No. Knowledge of safe abortion centers: 69 (69%) Yes, 31 (31%) No. Knowledge of qualified safe abortion service providers: Gynecologists 50 (50%), Midwives 28 (28%), Pharmacists 15 (15%), General Nurses 7 (7%). Factors hindering access to safe abortion services: Religious beliefs 50 (50%), Cost of services 30 (30%), Fear of stigmatization 22 (22%), Lack of knowledge about services 8 (8%). Most student participants were between the ages of 21 and 25 years. Majority of the students have knowledge about abortion laws in Ghana, the different methods of safe abortion, and the availability of safe abortion service centers and providers. Half of the students think religious beliefs interfere with their willingness to access safe abortion services and that the Gynecologist is usually the most qualified specialist to provide safe abortion services.

Published in	Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11
Page(s)	56-60
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Knowledge, Factors Hindering Access, Safe Abortion, Female Students

References

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[2]	Adhikari, R. (2016). Knowledge on legislation of abortion and experience of abortion among female youth in Nepal: A cross sectional study. Reproductive Health, 13 (1).
[3]	Aniteye, P., O’Brien, B. and Mayhew, S. H. (2016). Stigmatized by association: challenges for abortion service providers in Ghana. BMC Health Services Research, 16 (1).
[4]	Assifi, A. R., Berger, B., Tunçalp, Ö., Khosla, R. and Ganatra, B. (2016). Women’s Awareness and Knowledge of Abortion Laws: A Systematic Review. PLOS ONE, [online] 11 (3), p. e0152224. Available at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0152224 [Accessed 18 Jul. 2019].
[5]	Atakro, C. A., Addo, S. B., Aboagye, J. S., Menlah, A., Garti, I., Amoa-Gyarteng, K. G., Sarpong, T., Adatara, P., Kumah, K. J., Asare, B. B., Mensah, A. K., Lutterodt, S. H. and Boni, G. S. (2019). Contributing factors to unsafe abortion practices among women of reproductive age at selected district hospitals in the Ashanti region of Ghana. BMC Women’s Health, 19 (1).
[6]	Engelbert Bain, L., Amoakoh-Coleman, M., Tiendrebeogo, K.-S. T., Zweekhorst, M. B. M., de Cock Buning, T. and Becquet, R. (2020). Attitudes towards abortion and decision-making capacity of pregnant adolescents: perspectives of medicine, midwifery and law students in Accra, Ghana. The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, [online] 25 (2), pp. 151–158. Available at: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03119865/document [Accessed 12 Feb. 2022].
[7]	Harris, L. H. (2013). Abortion politics and the production of knowledge. Contraception, 88 (2), pp. 200–203.
[8]	Kheswa, JG, et al. Exploring the impact of abortion on female students at a South African University campus: A Phenomenological Study. Academic journal of interdisciplinary Studies 2014; 3 (1): 111-120.
[9]	Kim, C., Sorhaindo, A. and Ganatra, B. (2019). WHO guidelines and the role of the physician in task sharing in safe abortion care. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology.
[10]	Mekuriaw, S. and Adissalem Dereje, R. M. (2015). Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Safe Abortion among Female Students of Mizan-Tepi University, South West Ethiopia. Journal of Womens Health Care, 04 (06).
[11]	Olaitan, O. L. (2011). Attitudes of University Students Towards Abortion in Nigeria. International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 6 (3), pp. 52–57.
[12]	Rehnström Loi, U., Gemzell-Danielsson, K., Faxelid, E. and Klingberg-Allvin, M. (2015). Health care providers’ perceptions of and attitudes towards induced abortions in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia: a systematic literature review of qualitative and quantitative data. BMC Public Health, 15 (1).
[13]	Sundaram, A., Juarez, F., Bankole, A. and Singh, S. (2012). Factors Associated with Abortion-Seeking and Obtaining a Safe Abortion in Ghana. Studies in Family Planning, 43 (4), pp. 273–286.
[14]	Technical Working Group on the Prevention and Management of Unsafe Abortion (1992: Geneva, S. and Programme, W.H.O. M. H. and S. M. (1993). The Prevention and management of unsafe abortion: report of a technical working group, Geneva, 12-15 April 1992. [online] apps.who.int. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/59705 [Accessed 23 Mar. 2022].

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APA Style

Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick, Nidhi Rathod Balvant, Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini, Peter Paul Bamaalabong, Cynthia Akumanue. (2023). Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS). Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 11(3), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11

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Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick; Nidhi Rathod Balvant; Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini; Peter Paul Bamaalabong; Cynthia Akumanue. Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS). J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2023, 11(3), 56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11

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Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick, Nidhi Rathod Balvant, Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini, Peter Paul Bamaalabong, Cynthia Akumanue. Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS). J Gynecol Obstet. 2023;11(3):56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11

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@article{10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11,
  author = {Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick and Nidhi Rathod Balvant and Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini and Peter Paul Bamaalabong and Cynthia Akumanue},
  title = {Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS)},
  journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {56-60},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20231103.11},
  abstract = {Young women in the universities have an independence streak and have no restraints from parents, or school authorities regarding their sex lives, and can have as much sex as desired. If they have little knowledge on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies, they can pick seed and conceive. Lack of support from partners and/or family and limited monetary support lead them to make wrong choices regarding the termination of an unwanted pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and factors hindering access to safe abortion services among female students at the U.D.S. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the U.D.S. 100 female students between the ages of 15 and 45 years were conveniently selected from a database of 187 female students. A questionnaire containing the relevant research questions related to the topic was designed using google forms, pre-tested on randomly selected 20 participants out of the total study population and subsequently self-administered to 100 female students through a web-based electronic platform. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Age distribution of study participants: 15-20 Years, 18 (18%), 21-25 Years, 67 (67%), 26-30 years, 15 (15%). Knowledge of abortion laws in Ghana: 71 (71%) Yes, 29 (29%) No. Revision of the current abortion law in Ghana: 72 (72%) Yes, 28 (28%) No. Reasons for change in abortion Laws: Infringes on basic human rights of women 89 (89%), Contents are obsolete 11 (11%). Knowledge of safe abortion methods: 95 (95%) Yes, 5 (5%) No. Knowledge of safe abortion centers: 69 (69%) Yes, 31 (31%) No. Knowledge of qualified safe abortion service providers: Gynecologists 50 (50%), Midwives 28 (28%), Pharmacists 15 (15%), General Nurses 7 (7%). Factors hindering access to safe abortion services: Religious beliefs 50 (50%), Cost of services 30 (30%), Fear of stigmatization 22 (22%), Lack of knowledge about services 8 (8%). Most student participants were between the ages of 21 and 25 years. Majority of the students have knowledge about abortion laws in Ghana, the different methods of safe abortion, and the availability of safe abortion service centers and providers. Half of the students think religious beliefs interfere with their willingness to access safe abortion services and that the Gynecologist is usually the most qualified specialist to provide safe abortion services.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS)
AU - Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick
AU - Nidhi Rathod Balvant
AU - Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini
AU - Peter Paul Bamaalabong
AU - Cynthia Akumanue
Y1 - 2023/05/31
PY - 2023
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11
DO - 10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11
T2 - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
JF - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
JO - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
SP - 56
EP - 60
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2376-7820
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11
AB - Young women in the universities have an independence streak and have no restraints from parents, or school authorities regarding their sex lives, and can have as much sex as desired. If they have little knowledge on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies, they can pick seed and conceive. Lack of support from partners and/or family and limited monetary support lead them to make wrong choices regarding the termination of an unwanted pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and factors hindering access to safe abortion services among female students at the U.D.S. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the U.D.S. 100 female students between the ages of 15 and 45 years were conveniently selected from a database of 187 female students. A questionnaire containing the relevant research questions related to the topic was designed using google forms, pre-tested on randomly selected 20 participants out of the total study population and subsequently self-administered to 100 female students through a web-based electronic platform. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Age distribution of study participants: 15-20 Years, 18 (18%), 21-25 Years, 67 (67%), 26-30 years, 15 (15%). Knowledge of abortion laws in Ghana: 71 (71%) Yes, 29 (29%) No. Revision of the current abortion law in Ghana: 72 (72%) Yes, 28 (28%) No. Reasons for change in abortion Laws: Infringes on basic human rights of women 89 (89%), Contents are obsolete 11 (11%). Knowledge of safe abortion methods: 95 (95%) Yes, 5 (5%) No. Knowledge of safe abortion centers: 69 (69%) Yes, 31 (31%) No. Knowledge of qualified safe abortion service providers: Gynecologists 50 (50%), Midwives 28 (28%), Pharmacists 15 (15%), General Nurses 7 (7%). Factors hindering access to safe abortion services: Religious beliefs 50 (50%), Cost of services 30 (30%), Fear of stigmatization 22 (22%), Lack of knowledge about services 8 (8%). Most student participants were between the ages of 21 and 25 years. Majority of the students have knowledge about abortion laws in Ghana, the different methods of safe abortion, and the availability of safe abortion service centers and providers. Half of the students think religious beliefs interfere with their willingness to access safe abortion services and that the Gynecologist is usually the most qualified specialist to provide safe abortion services.
VL - 11
IS - 3
ER -

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Author Information

Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick

Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
Nidhi Rathod Balvant

Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini

Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
Peter Paul Bamaalabong

Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
Cynthia Akumanue

Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

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APA Style

Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick, Nidhi Rathod Balvant, Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini, Peter Paul Bamaalabong, Cynthia Akumanue. (2023). Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS). Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 11(3), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11

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ACS Style

Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick; Nidhi Rathod Balvant; Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini; Peter Paul Bamaalabong; Cynthia Akumanue. Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS). J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2023, 11(3), 56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11

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AMA Style

Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick, Nidhi Rathod Balvant, Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini, Peter Paul Bamaalabong, Cynthia Akumanue. Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS). J Gynecol Obstet. 2023;11(3):56-60. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11

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@article{10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11,
  author = {Martin Mumuni Danaah Malick and Nidhi Rathod Balvant and Radiyatu Nagumsi Fuseini and Peter Paul Bamaalabong and Cynthia Akumanue},
  title = {Knowledge of Ghana Abortion Laws and Factors Hindering Access to Safe Abortion Services by Female Students at the University for Development Studies (UDS)},
  journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {56-60},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20231103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20231103.11},
  abstract = {Young women in the universities have an independence streak and have no restraints from parents, or school authorities regarding their sex lives, and can have as much sex as desired. If they have little knowledge on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies, they can pick seed and conceive. Lack of support from partners and/or family and limited monetary support lead them to make wrong choices regarding the termination of an unwanted pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and factors hindering access to safe abortion services among female students at the U.D.S. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the U.D.S. 100 female students between the ages of 15 and 45 years were conveniently selected from a database of 187 female students. A questionnaire containing the relevant research questions related to the topic was designed using google forms, pre-tested on randomly selected 20 participants out of the total study population and subsequently self-administered to 100 female students through a web-based electronic platform. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Age distribution of study participants: 15-20 Years, 18 (18%), 21-25 Years, 67 (67%), 26-30 years, 15 (15%). Knowledge of abortion laws in Ghana: 71 (71%) Yes, 29 (29%) No. Revision of the current abortion law in Ghana: 72 (72%) Yes, 28 (28%) No. Reasons for change in abortion Laws: Infringes on basic human rights of women 89 (89%), Contents are obsolete 11 (11%). Knowledge of safe abortion methods: 95 (95%) Yes, 5 (5%) No. Knowledge of safe abortion centers: 69 (69%) Yes, 31 (31%) No. Knowledge of qualified safe abortion service providers: Gynecologists 50 (50%), Midwives 28 (28%), Pharmacists 15 (15%), General Nurses 7 (7%). Factors hindering access to safe abortion services: Religious beliefs 50 (50%), Cost of services 30 (30%), Fear of stigmatization 22 (22%), Lack of knowledge about services 8 (8%). Most student participants were between the ages of 21 and 25 years. Majority of the students have knowledge about abortion laws in Ghana, the different methods of safe abortion, and the availability of safe abortion service centers and providers. Half of the students think religious beliefs interfere with their willingness to access safe abortion services and that the Gynecologist is usually the most qualified specialist to provide safe abortion services.},
 year = {2023}
}

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