Womens Health (Lond). 2026 Jan-Dec;22:17455057261474450. doi: 10.1177/17455057261474450. Epub 2026 Jul 30.
ABSTRACT
IntroductionRepeated induced abortion is an important public health concern globally. While its burden spans both developed and developing contexts, complications are disproportionately higher in low-resource settings.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and associated factors of repeated induced abortion among women seeking abortion care services in public hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.Study DesignAn Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed.MethodsThe study was conducted among 406 systematically selected women seeking abortion care between April 10 and June 15, 2022. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires via EpiCollect. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Binary logistic regression was utilized to identify potential factors influencing the outcome variable. Odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the strength of association and variables with a p-value below 0.05 were considered statistically significant factors for the outcome variable. Reporting follows the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology statement.ResultsOf the 406 participants 21.9% (95% CI: 18.1-26.1) reported repeated induced abortion. Age ≥ 30 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.505; 95% CI: 1.279-23.696), having multiple sexual partner (AOR = 5.148; 95% CI: 2.410-10.997), and alcohol consumption (AOR = 2.535; 95% CI: 1.033-6.218) were the significant factors associated with repeated induced abortion.ConclusionApproximately one in five women seeking abortion care reported a lifetime history of repeat induced abortion. Rather than relying on uniform approaches, it is crucial to implement tailored counseling and behavioral assessments that focus specifically on older women, those with multiple sexual partners, and women who consume alcohol, as these subgroups exhibit significantly higher odds of repeat induced abortion.
PMID:42531481 | DOI:10.1177/17455057261474450
