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Table 3 Comparison of the underlying reasons for undergoing abortion/continuing with the pregnancy between the cases (N = 122)* and controls (N = 600)

From: Decision making on unsafe abortions in Sri Lanka: a case-control study

Underlying reasons for undergoing induced abortion

Cases

Underlying reasons for continuing with pregnancy

Controls

No.

%1

No.

%1

Economically not stable

36

29.5%

Religious beliefs on abortion

266

44.3%

Partner advocates abortion

17

13.9%

Partner supports pregnancy

167

27.8%

Too old for a pregnancy

14

11.5%

Economically stable

74

12.3%

Last birth interval too short

13

10.7%

Social stigma attached to abortion

73

12.2%

Unmarried status/ Widowhood

10

8.2%

Last birth interval not too short

50

8.3%

Extra-marital affair

9

7.4%

Forced by health worker

28

4.7%

Plans to go for a job

6

4.9%

Illegal status of abortion

25

4.2%

Not ready for motherhood

5

4.1%

Did not know how to get it aborted

23

3.8%

Rape

5

4.1%

Forced by partner, family or friends

21

3.5%

Forced by partner

4

3.3 %

Others know I am pregnant

6

1.0%

Female foetus on scan

1

0.8%

After visualizing the foetus on scan

1

0.2%

  1. *Women who admitted to have undergone an unsafe abortion were only included in the analysis.
  2. 1Multiple responses; percentages given out of the total in cases or controls.