Abstract:
Objective: In this study, we sought to determine to what extent the abortion law in
Ghana is reflective of public opinion.
Methods: In a cross-sectional,
community-based
survey, individuals in two fishing communities
in Accra were interviewed about their beliefs on abortion between May and
July 2016, and sociodemographic, attitudinal, and experience data were collected.
Factors associated with the outcome variable (abortion is justified to save the life/health
of the woman: Yes/No) were entered into a multivariate logistic regression.
Results: A total of 508 participants completed the survey. Thirty-nine
percent (n=198)
of the sample agreed that abortion was justified to save the life/health of the woman,
with no significant differences in this finding when controlling for understanding of the
law, gender, marital status, or personal experience of abortion in multivariate analysis.
Higher education (odds ratio [OR] 1.64 [P<0.001]) and older age (OR 1.28 [P<0.001])
are positively associated with abortion being justified to save life/health, while
those who have had an experience of unwanted sex are less likely to believe that (OR
0.60 [P=0.029]).
Conclusion: The participants held conservative views about the justification of abortion
to save a woman's life and/or health. Improving access to safe abortion services will
require acknowledgment of the broader social and cultural context that may make
accessing such services difficult.
