Evaluation of reported induced abortion in Bangladesh: evidence from the recent DHS

Mohammad Amirul Islam, University of Southampton

Induced abortion is illegal in Bangladesh unless for clinical reasons. Using Bangladesh DHS conducted during 1993-94, 1996-97 and 1999-2000 this article compares the trend in reported induced abortion, decomposes the effect of abortion to fertility using the Bongaarts’ model, and examines the level of under-reporting. An increasing trend in induced abortion is evident. BDHS 1999-2000 reveals that 3.7% of currently married women reported induced abortion. Among the abortion experienced women 20% were non-users of family planning (FP) and more than three-fifth made their FP decisions jointly with partners. The decomposition results suggest that 6% of total fertility were explained by reported induced abortions. Under-reporting is found considerably high. Binary logistic regression model reveals husband’s approval of FP as one of the significant determinants of induced abortion. Program efforts should monitor early development of pregnancy and encourage couples to use spacing methods to reduce the burden of unnecessary abortions in Bangladesh.