Factors associated with terminated pregnancies in Sri Lanka

What is it about?

Pregnancy termination is considered to have adverse effects on women’s health and to have created financial, economic, and social problems in their lives. This study aimed to identify factors associated with pregnancy termination in Sri Lanka. The study used 2016 Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data of 16,323 ever-married women aged 15–49. A binary logistic random intercept multilevel model was fitted to find the association between pregnancy termination and the predictor variables in this study.

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Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The study found that around 16% of Sri Lankan women undergo a pregnancy termination. Certain factors were linked to higher chances of pregnancy termination: as women got older, the likelihood increased. Overweight or obese women were more likely to undergo a pregnancy termination compared to those with a normal weight. However, as the number of children a woman had increased, the likelihood of termination decreased. Women who used contraceptives had a higher chance of pregnancy termination compared to those who didn't. Cohabiting and working women also had higher odds of termination. Women who experienced domestic violence were more likely to have terminated pregnancies. Interestingly, women from certain provinces and urban areas were less likely to have terminated pregnancies compared to others. Additionally, women living in households where indoor smoking was allowed were more likely to undergo a terminated pregnancy compared to those in non-smoking households.

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