{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T06:02:31Z","timestamp":1781157751733,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":78,"publisher":"Walter de Gruyter GmbH","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2015,2,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Background:<\/jats:bold> Unsafe abortion accounts for a significant proportion of maternal and reproductive health related mortalities and complications in developing countries. In Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa in general, abortion remains a significant barrier to achieving the health related MDGs. Yet, there exist a dearth of information on the determinants of abortion decisions among adolescents, students and other populations at risk.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Objectives:<\/jats:bold> This study explores the factors that are likely to influence abortion decisions among University students in Ghana. It also explores their knowledge and perceptions on abortion.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Methods:<\/jats:bold> Data were collected from 142 randomly sampled students of the University of Ghana through focus group discussions. Questions focused on their knowledge on abortion and the key determinants of their decisions to abort. The results were recorded, transcribed, and analysed qualitatively using the thematic analysis approach.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Results:<\/jats:bold> The students were knowledgeable on abortion. In making decisions on abortion, the students considered their education, religious beliefs, health, economic factors, and family.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusions:<\/jats:bold> Factors such as societal pressure and peer influence that, to date, have been the backbone of sexual and reproductive health, anti-abortion stigma, and unsafe abortion education and interventions have minimal influence on abortion decisions among the students. Rather, these interventions must focus on their education, religious beliefs, health, economic factors, and family to make maximum impact.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1515\/ijamh-2014-0011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2014,8,14]],"date-time":"2014-08-14T17:00:47Z","timestamp":1408035647000},"page":"79-84","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Determinants of abortion decisions among Ghanaian university students"],"prefix":"10.1515","volume":"27","author":[{"given":"Nana Nimo","family":"Appiah-Agyekum","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Constance","family":"Sorkpor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samuel","family":"Ofori-Mensah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"374","reference":[{"key":"ref491","article-title":"for Reproductive Abortion Questionnaire for Reproductive","author":"Knoxville Center","year":"2010","journal-title":"Health Health"},{"key":"ref51","article-title":"Criminal code Publishing Corporation","author":"Ammendment","year":"1985","journal-title":"Law Ghana"},{"key":"ref511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"psychology Qual Res"},{"key":"ref541","first-page":"5","article-title":"Modi Factors influencing women s attitudes towards abortion at the University of Pennsylvania","author":"Perspect Psychol","year":"2002"},{"key":"ref631","article-title":"Crock Abortion decision - making attitudes of adolescents attending Roman Catholic schools","author":"ProQuest","year":"2007"},{"key":"ref561","author":"Mappes TA","year":"2001","journal-title":"ethics"},{"key":"ref01","article-title":"Unsafe abortion : global and regional estimates of the incidence of unsafe abortion and associated mortality in th ed WHO","author":"Geneva","year":"2008","journal-title":"Organization"},{"key":"ref81","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1440-1614.2002.01100.x","article-title":"Understanding and evaluating qualitative research","author":"Fossey","year":"2002","journal-title":"Aust NZ J Psychiat"},{"key":"ref451","article-title":"Criminal code Publishing Corporation","author":"Ammendment","year":"1985","journal-title":"Law Ghana"},{"key":"ref551","article-title":"Adolescent girls illegal abortions and sugar - daddies in Dar es Vulnerable victims and active social agents","volume":"26","author":"Silberschmidt","year":"2001","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"key":"ref601","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.2307\/2673822","article-title":"Incidence of induced abortion in southern","volume":"27","author":"Ahiadeke","year":"2001","journal-title":"Ghana Int Fam Plan Perspec"},{"key":"ref721","first-page":"40","article-title":"Promoting and monitoring safe motherhood in","author":"Biritwum","year":"2006","journal-title":"Ghana Ghana Med"},{"key":"ref411","first-page":"368","article-title":"Unsafe abortion the preventable pandemic The","volume":"19","author":"Grimes","year":"2006","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref331","first-page":"19","article-title":"Preamble to the Constitution of the World as adopted by the New York signed on by the representatives of States Official Records of the World no and entered into force on Retrieved from","volume":"11","author":"June","year":"1948","journal-title":"Organization Health Organization International Health Conference Health Organization"},{"key":"ref421","first-page":"133","article-title":"JE The psychological implications of concealing a stigma : a cognitive - 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