Community Perceptions on Induced Abortions And Contraceptives in The Manhyia And Asawase Sub-Metros of Kumasi

ABSTRACT

Improving maternal health is a key concern of the international community due to the unacceptably high maternal mortality rate. Invariably several studies have identified induced unsafe abortions as a major contributory factor to these maternal deaths. Contraceptive use, a cheap and effective preventive method of unplanned pregnancies is rather low. Ghana and for that matter, Kumasi is no exception to the rule of a high incidence of induced abortions and its attendant public health problems. This cross-sectional study combines both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the community’s perceptions of induced abortions and contraceptives in the Manhyia and Asawase sub metros of Kumasi. The members of the reproductive age group for women and men 15 to 49 and 15 to 59 respectively were, identified as the main respondents. Methods of data collection included interviews with semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussion, and in-depth interview of opinion leaders and health workers in the community. The results indicate a widespread knowledge of the complications associated with induced abortions in the communities. For e.g., 261 (65.5%) of respondents stated rightly three conditions that may arise from terminating a pregnancy. Recourse to induced abortions was nonetheless widespread and cuts across social and religious classes. There is high level of male involvement and participation in abortion related-decision making.