The Other Side: How does Informed Choice Affect Induced Abortions among Reproductive-Age Immigrant Women in China-A Cross-Sectional Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Oct 24;13(10):1038. doi: 10.3390/ijerph13101038.

Abstract

This study attempted to explore how informed choice on contraceptive methods influenced induced abortions among reproductive-age immigrant women in China. A total of 3230 participants were recruited in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing. Information on informed choice was collected by questionnaires. The annual incidence rate (spells) of induced abortions was 0.46 (1500/3230) among the participants. The sequence from the highest score to the lowest was long-term, short-term and natural contraceptive methods (p < 0.0001). Significant differences of rates in induced abortions were found in region, occupation, length of the first immigration up to now (year), purpose for immigration, number of children, marital status, sex preference, contraceptive methods, deciders of contraceptive methods and side effects. In the zero-inflated negative binomial model, the joint impacts showed when a participant with one child employed condoms or family planning service providers as the deciders of contraceptive methods introduced intrauterine devices, the occurrence of induced abortions was more likely to be reduced. Women who underwent side effects using pills were more likely to have had induced abortions.

Keywords: China; contraceptive methods; induced abortion; informed choice; migrants.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adult
  • Beijing
  • China
  • Choice Behavior
  • Contraception / methods
  • Contraception / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult