Contraceptive and Abortion-Related Practices Among Females of Lower Income Group in District Lahore

Abstract

Introduction: Reproductive age females in Pakistan are still having poor access to adequate contraceptive information and difficulty in decision making, resulting in abortions many times.

Aims & Objectives: To identify contraceptive and abortion-related practice among married reproductive age females of lower income group in District Lahore.

Place and duration of study: Study was conducted in 30 union councils (UCs) of District Lahore, Pakistan in 2011-2016.

Material & Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out on a sample of 210 married females of reproductive age in 30 UCs of District Lahore. 30 UCs were randomly selected out of 150 followed by random selection of one village/ward which was considered as a cluster and 7 females were recruited through convenience sampling in each cluster. Data was collected on contraceptive use, preferences, decision making and abortion-related practice and their associations with socio-demographics of these females.

Results: The survey was carried out among 210 females with mean age 29 ± 5.28. 97.6% were Muslims, 23.3% were illiterate and 96.2% were housewives. Per capita per month income was ? PKR 3000 in 99 % of the respondents. 20% females used contraception. 39% women were delivered by untrained birth attendants, 95.7% females breast fed and amongst them only 15.7% fed for two years. 33(15.7%) of respondents had 48 abortions and amongst them 27% got it done by a Dai while female neighbors did it in 4.2% cases so a total of 31.2 % abortions were conducted at home. Place of abortion and delivery was decided by husbands in 87.4% respondents. Lower age and age at marriage were found to be associated with higher contraceptive use and abortions (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Contraceptive use is very low and abortion-related practices are poor. Respondent’s age and age at marriage are the determinants showing significant association with contraceptive use and abortion.