Post-abortion contraceptive prevalence rate as a sexual and reproductive health indicator

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Eva Lathrop, Emory University; Kristin Wall, Emory University; Lisa Haddad, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-01-01
• Publisher: Sage Journals
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2022
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17455057221122498
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Women's Health
• Volume: 18
• Start Page: 17455057221122498
• End Page: 17455057221122498
• Grant/Funding Information: The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
• Keywords: Prevalence; Contraceptive Agents; Contraception; Family Planning Services; Reproductive Health; Female; Abortion, Induced; Pregnancy; Contraception Behavior; Humans
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Globally, roughly 73 million abortions occur each year and the majority occur in low- and middle-income countries. 1 Post-abortion contraception is part of post-abortion care. It involves contraceptive counseling and provision to increase contraceptive prevalence and reduce unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion. 2 Data indicate that women can begin ovulating as soon as 2 weeks post-abortion, with 75% of women restarting ovulation within 6 weeks after an abortion. Rapid return to fertility coupled with high rates of resumption of sex post-abortion indicates the need for early contraceptive counseling and access.