Abstract
Introduction
Despite legal abortion services, unsafe practices persist in Cambodia, with few national studies examining the factors of women who choose abortion. Therefore, this study was carried out to find out the factor influencing induced abortion among the women of reproductive age group of Cambodia.
Methods
We used data from the 2021-2022 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey. The primary outcome was a report of induced abortion as recorded in pregnancy history in the last three years. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed using SPSS 21.
Results
Out of 6156 women, 8.8% reported an induced abortion within three years. Women aged 35-49 had higher odds (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR), 2.70; 95% CI, 1.47-4.98) of having had an induced abortion compared to women aged <20 years. Women from the poorest wealth quintiles were less likely to have an induced abortion (AOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37-0.76). Women who had 3 or more children of under 5 years were 90% less likely to have abortion (AOR, 0.10; CI (0.04-0.23) as compared to those who didn’t have under five children. Women who had used contraception currently had higher odds of induced abortion (AOR 1.96; 95% CI, 1.56-2.45) as compared to non-user. Exposure to media was also a significant factor of the abortion (AOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.01-1.69).
Conclusion
In Cambodia, age, wealth quintile of respondents, number of children of under 5 years, media exposure and current use of contraceptive methods influenced induced abortion among women. Interventions targeted at young, poor, women with more than three children of under 5 years and from rural area and remote individuals can address unequal access to abortion services.