Knowledge About Legalization of Abortionlaw in Nepal Among College Studying Youth Girls:A Case Study of Pokhara, Kaski

Abstract

Nepal legalized abortion in September 2002 after many years of advocacy andlobbying and supported by evidence based research. Legalization has been the firststep in reducing abortion related maternal mortality and morbidity. However, thereare many obstacles, those must be overcome before Nepalese women will be able toexercise their rights to safe and legal abortion services on affordable costs. Nepal hasone of the highest maternal mortality ratios in South Asian Countries. Unsafeabortions contributed significantly to the high maternal mortality figures of thecountry. The present study was conducted in different educational institutions of the Pohara,Kaski. The selected educational study areas were Janpriya Multiple Campus andKanya Campus to assess the knowledge about abortion law of the Nepal amongcollege studying youth girls. The study was made on different theoreticalapproaches. The study was mainly based on Gender perspective and Medico-Anthropologicalperspective.Descriptiveand exploratoryresearch designs wereusedin order to gain the objectives of this study.The total sample size was 200 from botheducational institutions (100 sample size from Janpriya multiple campus and 100sample size fromKanya Campus)and 50% students selected from intermediate leveland 50% students selected from bachelor level. For the purpose of the study, thestructured questionnaire was prepared and collected the data. The samplingtechnique was completely non- probability sampling method. Primary andsecondary sourcesof datawere adopted. However,more priority was given to thecollection of primary data. The major findings of the study were, majority of age of the respondents who wereparticipated in this survey werein between 16-20 years that was135 (67.5%).Somajority of respondents belongs from adolescence age group but 100% respondentsrepresented from youth group that they were in between 15-29 years old.37participants (19%) were married. Majority of respondents was considered thatwomen’s health improved after abortionhas been legalized and they hadpositiveperspectivesabout legal abortion that was197(98%). Most of the respondentssaid IV 6 that legalization on abortion can promote women’s status that was 135 (67%).Majority of respondents didn’t hear and know about Comprehensive Abortion Care(CAC) services; which services have been provided by government of Nepal since2005 A.D., this indicates that public was still unaware about Comprehensive abortioncaresites. In this study, majorityof the respondents(164)obtained fair knowledgeabout legal abortion. Similarly 23 respondents obtainedpoor knowledgeand 13respondents obtainedgood knowledge respectively. Married respondents had littlegreater knowledge than unmarried respondents, that was 59% i.e. they obtainedmean score 10.0 and unmarried respondents obtained 58% (9.8 mean score).According to level of education, knowledge about legalization on abortion law wasgreater knowledge in higher educated respondents than others: (Inter-mediate firstyear (57%), inter -mediate second year (56%), bachelor first year(57%), bachelorsecond year (62%),and bachelor third year (66%) respectively). All together the 200respondents obtained knowledge aboutlegalization on abortion law was 10.0 meanscore that was 59%. The total respondentsobtainedscore 58% Knowledge about legal abortion in Nepal.But this shows that the legal provisions werenot adequately aware among thembecause all respondentswere educated and majority belongs from urban areas andeven after 8 years of legalization on abortion, the knowledge was not adequatelyaware among them. So,less educated women or uneducated women, women whoare belongs from rural areas, where adequate health facilitiesare not available, lowsocio-economical status women of Nepal need a greater extent of informationabout new abortion law.Legalization of abortion in any country is the first and themost important step to save women from dying and deformities causedby unsafeabortions. However, maternal mortality and morbidity cannot be reduced by legalreform alone. Treatment of safe abortion uses a proportionate share of adequateand sufficienthospital resources. Increasing public awareness about their legal rightsto abortion and the health consequences of unsafe abortion practices, expandingaccess to safe and affordable abortion care and access to the Comprehensiveabortion care (CAC) services are important interventions that need to be carried outwithout much delay