ABORTION PRACTICES AMONG WOMEN IN KAZAKHSTAN: CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Abortion practices among women are a complex and sensitive topic that has been a subject of debate and controversy for many years. It involves the deliberate termination of a pregnancy and can have significant physical, emotional, and ethical implications for individuals and society as a whole. Abortion practices among women vary significantly worldwide due to cultural, legal, and social factors. Furthermore, the prevalence of abortion varies within different regions and populations, with approximately 1 million abortions performed each year on average. Abortion practices can be influenced by a variety of factors, including access to reproductive healthcare services, legal restrictions, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, and personal values. Objective. Determine the prevalence of abortion practices among women in Kazakhstan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from March 14 to March 30, 2024, to assess the state of abortion practice among women. The object of the study were women aged 18 years and older living in different regions of Kazakhstan. Stratified random sampling was used to form the sample, taking into account the geographical, age and socio-economic diversity of the population of Kazakhstan. The number of respondents amounted to 237 people. Women filled out anonymous questionnaires containing questions about socio-demographic characteristics, abortion experience, factors influencing the decision to have an abortion and access to reproductive services. Results: Abortion history was reported by 27.1% of women. The majority of women 69.0% had terminated pregnancy in the first trimester. Spontaneous abortion was reported by 25.6% of respondents, while 23.8% indicated safe induced abortion. The most frequent reason for induced abortion 41.5% was health problems (indications from the mother). In the majority of cases, 26.8% were initiated by women themselves. Conclusion: Effective reproductive health policies and interventions should prioritize access to safe and legal abortion services, as complications from unsafe abortion procedures can result in severe health consequences and even death. To achieve their desired fertility, women use a combination of contraception and abortion, and some societies also place constraints on marriage and sexual activity