Risk factors among men who have repeated experience of being the partner of a woman who requests an induced abortion.
BACKGROUND
Prevention of unintended pregnancies is a public health objective; however, the profiles of male partners of women who choose to abort are relatively unexplored.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate risk factors among men who have repeated experience of being the partner of a woman electing an induced abortion.


METHODS
A questionnaire was used to collect information from 590 men recruited through their pregnant partner who applied for an abortion in Sweden during 2009. A binary logistic regression model assessed risk factors associated with repeated experience of abortion.


RESULTS
One-third of the men had previous experience of a pregnant partner electing an induced abortion. Univariate analysis indicated these men were older, had a lower educational level and less emotional support, and were more often tobacco users than men for whom it was the first experience of a partner choosing to abort. Independent risk factors were being a victim of physical, psychological, or sexual violence or abuse over the past year (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.36-5.08), unemployment or sick leave (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.57-4.25), and having children (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.22-3.28). The men suggested improved sex and relationship education in school and lower unemployment rates could prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions.


CONCLUSIONS
Men with experience of repeat abortions present a picture of vulnerability that should be recognised in the prevention of unintended pregnancies. Increased work opportunities might be one important intervention to reduce the number of abortions.
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. marlene.makenzius@fhi.se
Marlene
M
Makenzius
Tanja
T
Tydén
Elisabeth
E
Darj
Margareta
M
Larsson
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult