Socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics of clients that accepted contraceptives at abortion center at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), Johannesburg, South Africa: a cross-sectional study (January-July 2021).

INTRODUCTION: access to family planning services is an important preventive strategy against maternal mortality as it can considerably reduce unintended pregnancies and prevent sequelae of unsafe abortion. We aimed to describe the socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics of abortion seekers and investigate factors associated with uptake of contraceptives following induced abortion at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.

METHODS: this study was a cross-sectional study among women who had legal termination of unwanted pregnancy at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), from 1st January 2021 to July 2021. Questionnaires were administered to 80 consenting consecutive clients after undergoing induced abortion. Information on socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics and pattern of contraceptive uptake of the respondents were obtained. Descriptive and bivariate analysis were conducted to determine the pattern and relationship of socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics and contraceptive uptake.

RESULTS: the mean age of the 80 respondents was 25.6 ± 6.6 years. Majority of the participants were of the Black race (96.25%, n= 77/80), single (90.00%, n= 72/80), of the Christian faith (80.00%, n= 64/80) and unemployed. The median number of children alive among the clients was 1(0-2), with about 37.5% of the participants being nulliparous. About 16.25% of the participants had had at least one previous termination of pregnancy. The prevalence of post-abortion contraceptive uptake was 97.5% (95%CI: 90.36% - 99.39%, N=78/80). More than half chose injectable contraceptive (53.85%, 95%CI: 42.60% - 64.71%, N= 42/78), followed by oral contraceptive pills (21.79%, 95%CI: 13.90% - 32.49% N= 17/78). We found no association between socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics, and contraceptive uptake among the abortion clients (p values >0.05).

CONCLUSION: the immediate post-abortion contraceptive uptake in our facility is very high. Majority of the clients accepted injectable contraceptives. The demographic and reproductive characteristics of our clients did not affect uptake of post-abortion contraception. More education is needed to improve uptake of other long-acting contraceptives that may not require frequent contact with the health facility.