191.2
Inequalities in induced abortion according to birthplace and educational attainment in a Southern European region (Basque Country)
Wednesday, 13 July 2016: 11:00
Location: Hörsaal 32 (Main Building)
Oral Presentation
Yolanda GONZALEZ-RABAGO, Social Determinants of Health and Demographic Change. OPIK, Spain, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain
Unai MARTIN, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain, Social Determinants of Health and Demographic Change. OPIK, Spain
Luisa N. BORRELL, Lehman College, CUNY, Department of Health Sciences, USA
Elena RODRIGUEZ, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain, Social Determinants of Health and Demographic Change. OPIK, Spain
Induced abortion (IA), an important indicator of reproductive health, has shown social inequality especially related to birthplace and education. Studies examining IA inequalities by birthplace suggested higher rates for IAs, repeated IAs and IAs performed in the second trimester of pregnancy among immigrants relative to native women. This finding was also observed among women with lower education relative to those with higher education. Although the intersection of social indicators of inequalities has been widely discussed in other health areas, few studies have examined this intersection on reproductive health. The study aimed to examine the independent and joint effects of birthplace and education on IA, repeat and IAs performed in the 2
nd trimester among women residing in the Basque Country (Spain).
The study was a cross-sectional population-based study including IA of women aged 25-49 years residing in the Basque Country, Spain, between 2011 and 2013. Prevalence estimates and log-binomial regression were used to quantify the effects of birthplace and education attainment on all outcomes.
The results indicate that immigrant women exhibited higher probability of having an IAs (PR:5.31), repeated (PR:7.23) and 2nd trimester IAs (PR:4.07) than Spanish women. For educational attainment, we found a higher probability in all outcomes among women with a primary or lower education relative to those with a graduate education (All IA PR:2.51; repeated IA PR:6.00; 2nd trimester IA PR:3.08). However, no heterogeneity was observed for the joint effect birthplace and educational attainment on IAs, repeated and 2nd trimester IAs.
This study called attention to the importance of birthplace and educational level as key factors explaining not only an IA decision but also having a repeated IA or a 2nd semester IA and suggest a better understanding of these factors when designing programs for sexual and reproductive health education to reduce inequalities between women.
