Table 4 Characteristics of the termination of pregnancy among women who underwent certainly induced abortion (N = 122) 1
From: Decision making on unsafe abortions in Sri Lanka: a case-control study
Characteristic | No. | % |
|---|---|---|
Sought help on ways to terminate the pregnancy | ||
Did not seek help | 49 | 40.2% |
Sought help | ||
• Husband/Partner | 37 | 30.3% |
• Family/Relative | 10 | 8.2% |
• Friend/ Neighbour | 27 | 22.1% |
• Medical person | 1 | 0.8% |
• Three wheel Taxi drivers | 3 | 2.5% |
Person who did the abortion | ||
Qualified doctor | 25 | 20.5% |
Traditional healer | 3 | 2.5% |
Pharmacist | 2 | 1.6% |
On her own without any help | 13 | 10.7% |
Other (Friend/Husband/Family member) | 3 | 2.5% |
Self proclaimed abortionists | 44 | 36.1% |
Ignorant of his status/No response2 | 32 | 26.2% |
Delay since termination to reach the hospital | ||
Within a day | 13 | 10.7% |
2-4 days | 26 | 21.3% |
5-7 days | 18 | 14.8% |
More than one week | 24 | 19.7% |
Not sure/No response2 | 41 | 33.6% |
Method used for termination of pregnancy | ||
Trans-vaginal insertion | 47 | 38.5% |
Injections | 7 | 5.7% |
Indigenous medicine and tonic | 16 | 13.1% |
Abdominal or trans-vaginal application of pressure | 7 | 5.7% |
Vacuum aspiration | 9 | 7.4% |
Dilatation and curettage | 1 | 0.8% |
Medicine (E.g. Misoprostol) | 5 | 4.1% |
Ignorant of the procedure/No response2,3 | 30 | 24.6% |
Place of abortion | ||
Private hospital | 8 | 6.6% |
GP Practice | 14 | 11.5% |
Own home/Friend’s house | 7 | 5.7% |
Unknown place (E.g. Abortionist’s house, boutique) | 56 | 45.9% |
Ignorant of the place/No response2 | 37 | 30.3% |
Persons who accompanied the woman for the abortion | ||
Husband/Partner | 41 | 33.6% |
Friend | 10 | 8.2% |
Sibling/relation | 12 | 9.8% |
None | 21 | 17.2% |
No response2,4 | 38 | 31.1% |
Total | 122 | 100.0% |