Unsafe abortion among young people in Katete, Zambia

• Main Author: Cibangu Katamba
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Makhdoomi Printers 2015-01-01
• Series: Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health
• Subjects: Unsafe; Induced; Abortion; Youth; Katete
• Online Access: http://gjmedph.com/uploads/O3-Vo4No2.pdf

The current research took place at Saint Francis Hospital. It is a hospital based health survey using semi-structured questionnaire. A total number of 39 youths participated in the study, including 28 adolescents (71.8%) and 11 older youths (28.2%). The majority were single and school going girls. 37% of adolescent had their first sex intercourse on the year following menarche. The average ages at menarche and first sex were 13 years and 15 years respectively for both groups. Most girls (61.5%) did not know their HIV status while 38.5% were HIV negative. All pregnancies were unplanned and unwanted, resulting in induced abortions. The majority of abortions were unsafe and unsanitary, conducted in the bush, in homes/villages, at school, and sometimes in drug shops. They were either self induced or conducted by lay providers. Only 28.6% of adolescent had used contraceptives in the past, mostly condoms; as compared to 54.5% of older youths. 67.9% of adolescents and 81.8% of older youths were involved in risky, unstable relationships (multiple and/or concurrent sexual partners). The common complications of abortions were: retained product of conception, sepsis, haemorrhage, shock, pelvic infection, and lacerations of the cervix. Projects and programmes aiming at addressing unsafe sex and reproductive health needs among young people are urgently needed.