High abortion rate in a legally restrictive setting: Potential social network influence

Abstract

In Côte d'Ivoire, access to abortion services is very restricted by law. However, a recent study suggests high level of induced abortion in the country. Social network can play an important role in helping women find ways around legal restrictions to induce abortion. This study explores the association between women's abortions and the prevalence of abortion in their social networks. We classify social networks into three different groups: close confidantes, household level peers and geographic cluster level peers. Drawing upon a nationally representative survey data, we found positive and statistically significant association in the close confidante and cluster peer specifications. However, we did not find strong evidence of the existence of association in the household specification.

Keywords

• Côte d'Ivoire
• Abortion
• Legal restrictions
• Social network