Induced Abortion and Its Associated Factors among Female Students in Selected Tertiary Learning Institutions in Gaborone City, Botswana
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Date
2025-06
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Induced abortion signifies that pregnancy has been tampered with resulting in pregnancy loss. In 2014 from January -August, 9 abortion related deaths occurred in Botswana. There are several reasons female students in tertiary institutions resorted to seek induced abortion which included the socio-demographics like age and socio-economic factors like financial instability. Parental fears, unintended pregnancy and pressure from the partner also forced females to terminate pregnancy. Induced abortion has claimed many women’s lives especially in developing countries with very restrictive abortion laws like Botswana as women do not access safe abortion care services. The study intended to establish the determinants of induced abortion among female students in selected tertiary learning institutions in Gaborone City, Botswana. It concentrated primarily on establishing the prevalence of induced abortion, assessed the level of knowledge, assessed the attitude of female students in tertiary learning institutions while also establishing the impact of sociodemographic parameters on induced abortion. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. Systematic random sampling technique was used to come up with 278 participants. Prior to commencement of data collection, all ethical and logistical prerequisites were satisfied. Informed consent was solicited from all the study participants and the purpose of the study was fully explained. A self-administered electronic questionnaire was used to collect data. Microsoft Excel spread sheet was used to code, clean, and enter the data, which was then exported for analysis to the statistical package for social sciences version 24. Frequency distribution tables, percentages graphs, and pie charts were used to illustrate the descriptive information. The study revealed that prevalence of induced abortion among female students in Gaborone City is 7.9 %. Concerning level of knowledge, 58.6% showed that they know the context in which induced abortion is accepted in Botswana (shows good knowledge). More than half of the respondents (53%) showed positive attitude towards induced abortion. Age was the only socio -demographic factor associated with induced abortion with p=0.047 using Chi Squire test χ2= 7.609, df=3. The study findings concluded that female students resort to induced abortion as a result of pressure from both parents and male partners especially when the pregnancy is unintended. The study recommends that the abortion law in Botswana be made liberal to ease access to safe abortion care services. Ministry of Education and Skills Development should come up with programs or activities that are geared towards social skills development and empowerment to engage students after completing high school and awaiting their academic results.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health (Reproductive Health) in the School of Health Sciences of Kenyatta University, June 2025.
Supervisors
1. Isaac Ogweno Owaka
2. Rosebella Kipkalom