Publications

The knowledge and perception of abortion has highly influenced the choice to undergo selfinducedabortion. The identified outcomes of which have continued to increase maternalmorbidity and mortality. This is to say self-induced abortions which are mostly done byunsafe methods apart from claiming lives, often result in serious health problems. The mainpurpose of this study was to determine the knowledge on factors and perception of females’medical student on self-induced abortion. This was a cross-sectional study. About 185females’ medical students participated and filled self-administered questionnaire followingtheir consent to participate in the study. Data collected were entered into excel spread sheetand analysed with the help of excel. Results were presented on tables. Out of 185 participants,165(89.2%) said unsafe abortion is abortion done by inflicting trauma, 185(100%) agreed thatcomprehensive abortion should be done by medical practitioner, 185(100%) said abortion canlead to death, infertility and psychological trauma. 66(35.7%) responded that abortion is safeat any age while 119(64.3%) said no, it is not safe at any age. 54(29.2%) said abortion can bedone anywhere as long as drug is available while 131(70.8%) responded no, 172(92.9%) saidabortion is right of every female in Uganda while 13(7.0%) disagreed. Also, 185 (100%) saidpregnancy caused by raped as one of the factors triggering self-induced abortion, stigma178(96.2%), fear of forced marriage 168(90.8%), fear of responsibility and denial by father150(81.1%) and desire to finished school 110(59.5%). Response of participants on perceptionof female students on self-induced abortion. 139(75.1%) said abortion should be permitted,151(81.6%) believe contraceptives used can reduced abortion incidence, 157(84.9%) blamedinadequate sex education for self-induced abortion. 131(70.8%) believed free access toabortion care can reduced mortality or morbidity related to abortion complications. 149(80.5%)said marriage can reduce self-induced abortion, 70(37.8%) said friends should be advised togo for abortion to avoid unplanned pregnancy while 36(19.5%) said abortion is for familyplanning and 149(80.5%) disagreed that it is not a form of planning a family. This study concludes that the females’ folks have knowledge on self-induced abortion however, their perception shows abortion should be the right of every female and not only on medical basis.