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Revisiting the predisposing, enabling, and need factors of unsafe abortion in India using the Heckman Probit model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2023

Margubur Rahaman Open the ORCID record for Margubur Rahaman [Opens in a new window] ,
Avijit Roy Open the ORCID record for Avijit Roy [Opens in a new window] ,
Pradip Chouhan Open the ORCID record for Pradip Chouhan [Opens in a new window] ,
Kailash Chandra Das Open the ORCID record for Kailash Chandra Das [Opens in a new window]  and
Md Juel Rana Open the ORCID record for Md Juel Rana [Opens in a new window]
Margubur Rahaman*
Affiliation:
Department of Migration & Urban Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, India
Avijit Roy
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, West Bengal, India
Pradip Chouhan
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Malda College, West Bengal, India
Kailash Chandra Das
Affiliation:
Department of Migration & Urban Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, India
Md Juel Rana
Affiliation:
Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute (GBPSSI), Allahabad, India
*
Corresponding author: Margubur Rahaman; Email: margubur48@gmail.com
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Abstract

Unsafe abortion refers to induced abortions performed without trained medical assistance. While previous studies have investigated predictors of unsafe abortion in India, none have addressed these factors with accounting sample selection bias. This study aims to evaluate the contributors to unsafe abortion in India by using the latest National Family Health Survey data conducted during 2019–2021, incorporating the adjustment of sample selection bias. The study included women aged 15 to 49 who had terminated their most recent pregnancy within five years prior to the survey (total weighted sample (N) = 4,810). Descriptive and bivariate statistics and the Heckman Probit model were employed. The prevalence of unsafe abortion in India was 31%. Key predictors of unsafe abortion included women’s age, the gender composition of their living children, gestation stage, family planning status, and geographical region. Unsafe abortions were typically performed in the early stages of gestation, often involving self-administered medication. The primary reasons cited were unintended pregnancies and health complications. This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions that take into account regional, demographic, and social dynamics influencing abortion practices in India.

Keywords

unsafe abortiongeographical patternsample selection biasIndiaHeckman model
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 56 , Issue 3 , May 2024 , pp. 459 - 479
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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