Abstract
Background: The aim is to identify the current situation and underlying factors related to abortion among Asian women in New Zealand
Methods: This study consists of an epidemiological review of abortion trends and patterns among Asian women in New Zealand for the period between 2002 and 2008; and a cross-sectional study of 188 self-identified Asian women obtaining abortion at four clinics in New Zealand.
Results: Asian women had the highest abortion rates and ratios over the years in comparison to women of other ethnic groups. Abortion numbers among Asian women in their 20s accounted for more than 50% of the total number of abortions across all the age groups. Asian women reported very low percentages of oral contraceptive use. The main reason for an abortion among Asian women was having a baby now would dramatically change the women’s life. Unable to afford the cost of raising a child, single motherhood, relationship problems, completed childbearing and pressure from parents were also among reasons for abortion. Less than a quarter of the women claimed that they had used a birth control method all the time. The fear of side effects, especially weight gain, was the most common reason for “non-use” or “only sometimes use”.
Conclusions: The study provides a better understanding of Asian women’s sexual health knowledge, attitude and behaviour, including the knowledge and use of contraceptives. It is hoped that the results of this study would provide a useful platform for designing effective sexual and reproductive health education/ intervention programmes that specially target Asian migrant women and their partners, improving their knowledge, attitude and behaviour toward safe sex, prevention of unwanted pregnancy and/or abortion through effective use of contraceptive methods.