Contextual Factors Associated with Pregnancy Termination among Young Women in Nigeria

Abstract

Pregnancy termination where it is illegally performed has serious implications for women’s current and future well-being. In this study, I investigated the association between contextual factors and pregnancy termination among 13,724 young women based on data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Three mixed-effect logistic regression models were estimated. Results reveal that 8.68% had ever terminated a pregnancy. Southern women (AOR = 0.68, p < 0.05; 95% CI: 0.48–0.96) and those who resided in communities with a high wealth level (AOR = 0.63, p < 0.05; 95% CI: 0.43–0.90), high education level (AOR = 0.43, p < 0.01; 95% CI: 0.33–0.56), and high media exposure (AOR = 0.74, p < 0.05; 95% CI: 0.61–0.89) had lower odds of pregnancy termination than those who resided in communities with high unmet need for family planning (AOR = 2.19, p < 0.01; 95% CI: 1.76–2.73). Public health policy would benefit from a better understanding of how context enhances demand for pregnancy termination.

Keywords:

• Pregnancy termination
• young women
• contextual factors
• sexual and reproductive health
• Nigeria

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).