Determinants of Favorable Attitudes About Abortion in Early Adolescence: Findings Across Three Restricted Legal Settings

Leah Koenig
Mengmeng Li, Johns Hopkins University
Caroline Moreau, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)
Patrick Kayembe, Université de Kinshasa
Eric Mafuta, University of Kinshasa
José Ortiz, University of Cuenca
Siswanto Wilopo, Universitas Gadja Mada
Robert Blum, Johns Hopkins University

Objective: To explore determinants of Favorable Abortion Attitudes (FAAs) among adolescents aged 10-14 across contexts. Methods: This study analyzed baseline data from 1,574 adolescents in the Global Early Adolescent Study in Kinshasa, DRC and Cuenca, Ecuador, from 2017-2018. Gender-stratified multivariable logistic regressions assessed associations between socio-demographic characteristics and FAAs after adjustment for age, wealth, education and other predictors. Results: FAAs were rare, and more common among boys. Lower odds of FAAs were found for adolescents who were: older (Cuenca: aOR 0.68, p=0.003 for boys; Kinshasa: aOR 0.85, p=0.019 for boys; aOR 0.78, p=0.001 for girls); at grade-for-age in Cuenca (aOR 0.32, p=0.015 for boys; aOR 0.19, p=0.002 for girls); and wealthier boys in Kinshasa (aOR 0.56, p=0.017 for middle; aOR 0.62, p=0.037 for wealthiest). Conclusion: Acceptance of abortion is low among adolescents. Older age and social advantage, indicated by educational attainment and wealth, were linked to less favorable abortion attitudes.

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 Presented in Session 2. Children & Youth