Knowledge and attitude towards current Ethiopian abortion law and its associated factors by abortion seeker women in Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia: Hospital-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Human rights laws defend the right to abortion. In Ethiopia, the 2005 abortion law permits termination in specific cases. Unsafe abortions account for 19.6 % of maternal deaths. Objective: Assessing knowledge and attitudes towards the current Ethiopian abortion law for women in Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in an institutional setting. We entered the data into Epi-Data version 4.6.0.2 and then exported it to SPSS Windows version 25. In bivariate logistic regression analysis, we included explanatory variables with a p-value < 0.25. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, we considered a p-value of 0.05, along with a 95 % CI, to be significant. A p-value of 0.05 and a 95 % CI are considered significant in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. The study employed AOR to establish the statistical association. Result: A study involving 398 individuals revealed that 61.3 % had good knowledge and 52.3 % favourable attitude toward the law. Married women were 3.91 times more likely to have good knowledge, can read and write were 8.29 times more likely to have a positive attitude. Housewives were 94 % less likely to have a good attitude. Women who recognized abortion complications were 3.11 times more likely to have a positive attitude, and sources of information were 2.62 times more likely to have a positive attitude. Conclusion: Respondents show good knowledge and a positive attitude toward the current abortion law. However, there is still a need for further education and support for safe and legal abortion services.

Keywords

• Knowledge
• Attitude
• Gedeo zone