Magnitude and determinants of common mental disorders following abortion among women of reproductive age recruited from health institutions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Afr J Reprod Health. 2025 Sep 29;29(9s):67-81. doi: 10.29063/ajrh2025/v29i9s.6.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs) among women who have had abortions is not well understood. The scope of this paper concerns the onset of CMDs after an abortion, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ethiopia, where knowledge on the incidence of CMDs after an abortion, as well as their determinants, are limited. The aim of the study was to assess the magnitude and determinants of CMDs following abortion. The study was conducted in five health institutions in Addis Ababa among 460 women aged 18-49 years who had had at least one abortion. The single population proportion formula was used to calculate sample size. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select the health facilities, and consecutive sampling was used to enrol participants into the study. We collected, cleaned, reviewed, and checked the data for completeness using Kobo Toolbox before exporting into SPSS version 27 software for analysis. Descriptive statistics and binary and multiple logistic regressions were computed using a 95% confidence level. The magnitude of CMDs was 18.2% at a confidence interval (CI) of (0.15, 0.22). Being not co-habited with a partner (AOR= 3.18; 95% CI (1.03, 9.84)), belonging in the category of non-paying occupations (AOR= 2.17; 95% CI (1.11, 4.24)), having a living child (AOR= 0.46; 95% CI (0.22, 0.98)), contraceptive use before conception (AOR= 0.46; 95% CI (0.22, 0.96)), substance use (AOR= 3.93; 95% CI (1.92, 8.03)), intimate partner emotional violence (AOR= 5.09; 95% CI (1.06, 24.33)), stigma and discrimination (negative stereotyping (AOR= 1.11; 95% CI (1.05, 1.16)) and discrimination and exclusion (AOR= 1.86; 95% CI (1.78, 2.94)) were factors associated with CMDs after abortion among the women. Therefore, one in five women who have had an abortion experience CMDs. This highlights the need for comprehensive counseling services as an addition to abortion services and increase awareness on the problem among healthcare providers and service users.

PMID:41051339 | DOI:10.29063/ajrh2025/v29i9s.6