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Table 1 Prevalence and types of abortion by demographic characteristics and knowledge of women regarding abortion

From: Prevalence and factors associated with abortion and unsafe abortion in Nepal: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Demographic Characteristics and knowledge on abortion

N = 2395 n(%)

Prevalence of abortion, n(%)

Types of abortion, n(%)

No (1889)

Yes (506)

Safe(425)

Unsafe (81)

Age a

 15–24

303(13)

222(73)

81(27)

65(80)

16(20)

 25–34

940(39)

634(67)

306(33)

263(86)

43(14)

  ≥ 35

1152(48)

1033(90)

119(10)

97(82)

22(18)

Education

 No education

1152(48)

1019(88)

133(12)

103(77)

30(23)

 Primary

451(19)

331(73)

120(27)

104(87)

16(13)

 Secondary

638(27)

430(67)

208(33)

177(85)

31(15)

 Higher

153(6)

108(71)

45(29)

41(91)

4(9)

Occupation

 Agriculture

1336(56)

1106(83)

230(17)

187(81)

43(19)

 Unemployed

487(20)

364(75)

123(25)

105(85)

18(15)

 Non-agriculture

572(24)

419(73)

153(27)

133(87)

20(13)

Religion

 Muslim and others

160(7)

133(83)

27(17)

22(81)

5(19)

 Buddhist

143(6)

112(78)

31(22)

30(97)

1(3)

 Hindu

2092(87)

1644(79)

448(21)

373(83)

75(17)

Ethnicity

 Dalit and others

469(19)

395(84)

74(16)

59(80)

15(20)

 Janajati

786(33)

630(80)

156(20)

135(87)

21(13)

 Brahmin and Chhetri

1140(48)

864(76)

276(24)

231(84)

45(16)

Region

 Mountain

354(15)

299(84)

55(16)

43(78)

12(22)

 Terai

1107(46)

858(78)

249(22)

215(86)

34(14)

 Hill

934(39)

732(78)

202(22)

167(83)

35(17)

Residence

 Rural

1634(68)

1315(80)

319(20)

265(83)

54(17)

 Urban

761(32)

574(75)

187(25)

160(86)

27(14)

Wealth Index

 Poorest

471(20)

411(87)

60(13)

40(67)

20(33)

 Poorer

383(16)

323(84)

60(16)

49(82)

11(18)

 Middle

393(16)

311(79)

82(21)

66(80)

16(20)

 Richer

471(20)

350(74)

121(26)

105(87)

16(13)

 Richest

677(28)

494(73)

183(27)

165(90)

18(10)

Contraceptive use

 None

1121(47)

907(81)

214(19)

181(85)

33(15)

 Traditional methods

208(9)

135(65)

73(35)

61(84)

12(16)

 Modern methods

1066(44)

847(79)

219(21)

183(84)

36(16)

Knowledge on legal abortion

 No

1348(56)

1181(88)

167(12)

136(81)

31(19)

 Yes

1047(44)

708(68)

339(32)

289(85)

50(15)

Knowledge on safe places

 No

726(30)

696(96)

30(4)

24(80)

6(20)

 Yes

1669(70)

1193(71)

476(29)

401(84)

75(16)

Reason for abortion

 Health risk

69(13)

NA

69(13)

59(86)

10(14)

 Child spacing

85(17)

NA

85(17)

71(84)

14(16)

 Unwanted child

232(46)

NA

232(46)

196(84)

36(16)

 Low earning and others

120(24)

NA

120(24)

99(82)

21(18)

  1. NA Not applicable; aage is categorized in 10 years interval due to few respondents lower age groups