The Risks and Consequences: An Analysis of Unintended Pregnancies and Unsafe Abortions among Female Factory Workers in Sri Lanka
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51983/arss-2023.12.2.3604Keywords:
Unwanted Pregnancy, Induced Abortion, Export Processing Zone, Contraception, KnowledgeAbstract
In Sri Lanka, the occurrence of unsafe abortions remains a significant issue although the country only allows abortions when a woman’s life is at risk. The Female Factory Workers (FFWs are among the groups particularly susceptible to unsafe abortions. The objective of this research is to investigate the knowledge and practices of FFWs regarding unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion. A structured questionnaire was administered by a team of trained interviewers among randomly selected 608 FFWs of reproductive age using multi-stage cluster sampling after receiving writing informed consent. The knowledge among FFWs regarding managing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion is relatively limited. In particular, the knowledge of younger respondents is significantly lower compared to adults, placing them at higher vulnerability if they engage in sexual activity. The occurrence of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions is not uncommon within the group of FFWs who have experienced pregnancy, with rates of 22% and 7.4% respectively. Nearly half (47%) of the pregnancies reported among young FFWs were unintended. Among the 22 women who had undergone an abortion, 5 had never utilized any form of contraception, while 20 had never used Emergency Contraceptives. Focused interventions are needed to address the issue. Improving FFW’s knowledge and access to resources can benefit both workers and management in long-run.
References
Abeykoon, A. T. (2012). Estimates of Abortion Rate in Sri Lanka using Bongaarts Model of Proximate Determinants of Fertility. Colombo, Sri Lanka: The United Nations Population Fund.
Bahk, J., Yun, S.-C., Kim, Y.-m., & Khang, Y.-H. (2015). Impact of unintended pregnancy on maternal mental health: a causal analysis using follow-up data of the Panel Study on Korean Children. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 15(85).
Boteju, G. J., Samaratunge, M. A., Fernandopulle, B. M., & Priyadarshanie, M. N. (2017). Knowledge and attitudes regarding the Emergency Contraceptive Pills among the Defence University students in Sri Lanka. Retrieved from http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1633 [Accessed 09 June 2022].
CDC. (2021). Unintended Pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/unintendedpregnancy/index.htm [Accessed 2 June 2022].
Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling Techniques. 3rd ed. New York, United States of America: John Wiley & Sons.
DCS. (2017). Demographic and Health Survey - 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Department of Census and Statistics.
De Silva, I. (2019). Shifting of Abortion Practice in Sri Lanka. In: Sexual and Reproductive Health Research in Sri Lanka; Current Status, Challenges and Directions. Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, 3-8.
De Silva, W. I. (1997). The Practice of Induced Abortion in Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka, Boston: Harvard School of Public Health.
De Silva, W. I. (2019). Shifting of Abortion Practice in Sri Lanka. In: Sexual and Reproductive Health Research in Sri Lanka; Current Status, Challenges and Directions. Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, 3-8.
Edirisinghe, N. W. (2013). Pregnancy Planning, birth preparedness, complication readiness and their related factors among antenatal mothers admitted to General Hospital Matara, Colombo, Sri Lanka: University of Colombo.
Engman, M., Onodera, O., & Pinali, E. (2007). Export processing zones: past and future role in trade and development. Paris: OECD Publishing.
FHB. (2015). National Youth Health Survey 2012/2013 Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Adolescent and Youth Health Unit, Family Health Bureau.
Kaluarachchi, A. et al. (2018). Service provider perceptions of the trend in severity of symptoms and complications in women admitted following an incomplete abortion. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 7(6), 2-7.
Kaluarachchi, A. et al. (2018). Service provider perceptions of the trend in severity of symptoms and complications in women admitted following an incomplete abortion. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 2018(7), 1521-1526.
Koggala, E. P. Z. (2021). Operational Data of the Koggala EPZ. Galle, Sri Lanka: Industrial Relation Unit, Koggala Export Processing Zone.
Malavige, C. (2010). A Study of unintended, intended pregnancies and association with maternal and socio-demographic characteristics among antenatal mothers in Induwara, Bentota MOH area, Colombo, Sri Lanka: University of Colombo.
Nawaratne, J. (2015). Proportion, knowledge, attitudes and correlates of advanced maternal age, among pregnant women attending to antenatal clinics conducted by the Colombo Municipal Council, Colombo, Sri Lanka: University of Colombo.
Penal Code. (1883). Penal Code, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Peter, H., Geoff, C., Jonathan, G., & Max, O. (2015). Female workers in textile and garment sectors in Sri Lankan Export Processing Zones (EPZs): gender dimensions and working conditions. Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences, 38(1), 63-77.
Peter, H., Sharon, M., & Jamie, M. (2012). Gender, globalization and empowerment: a study of women who work in Sri Lanka’s Export Processing Zones. Work Organisation, Labour & Globalisation, 6(1), 131-146.
Rajapakse, S., Frances, M., Truls, S., & De Silva, V. (2018). Healthcare seeking behaviour among female garment workers in Koggala Free Trade Zone, Sri Lanka. Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 24(4), 149-155.
Rajapakshe, L. C. (2000). Estimates of Induced Abortion using RRT Technique. Colombo, Sri Lanka: s.n.
Rajapakshe, L. C., & De Silva, W. I. (2000). Profile of women seeking abortion, Colombo, Sri Lanka: University of Colombo.
Ranatunga, I. D., & Jayaratne, K. (2020). Proportion of unplanned pregnancies, their determinants and health outcomes of women delivering at a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 20(667).
Senanayake, L., Willatgamuwa, S., & Jayasinghe, K. (2008). Reducing the burden of unsafe abortion in Sri Lanka. Colombo: Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka.
SLBFE. (2019). Overview of the Sri Lankan Labor Force in the Middle East. Retrieved from http://www.slbfe.lk/downloads/SLBFE-Overview-of-the-Sri-Lankan-Labor-Force-in-the-Middle-East.pdf [Accessed 15 August 2020].
Suranga M. M. S., Silva, K. T., & Senanayake, L. (2017). Access to information and attitudes towards induced abortion: a community-based study among adults in the City of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 23(1), 28-38.
Suranga M. S., Silva KT, K. T., & Senanayake, L. (2017). Gender differences in knowledge and attitudes concerning induced abortion in Sri Lanka: a community-based study in the Colombo City. Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences, 40(2), 93-102.
Suranga, M. S. (2019). Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Research in Sri Lanka; Current Status, Challenges and Future Directions. In: Sexual and Reproductive Health Research in Sri Lanka; Current Status, Challenges and Directions. Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, 19-34.
Suranga, M. S., & De Silva, W. I. (2020). Induced Abortion. In: W. I. De Silva, ed. Sri Lankan Youth: Sexual and Reproductive Health; Profile, Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour & Vulnerability. Colombo, Sri Lanka: ChildFund Sri Lanka, 176-188.
Suranga, M. S., Silva KT, K. T., & Senanayake, L. (2016). Perception on the abortion laws in Sri Lanka: A community-based study in the city of Colombo. Ceylon Medical Journal, 61(4), 171-175.
Suranga, M. S., Silva, K. T., & Senanayake, L. (2016). Knowledge and Attitudes of Adults Concerning Induced Abortion in Colombo City, Sri Lanka. Peradeniya, Sri Lanka: Master of Philosophy Thesis; University of Peradeniya.
Talagala, N. (2010). Unsafe abortions in Sri Lanka – facts and risk profile. Journal of the Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 15(1), 1-13. Retrieved from http://jccpsl.sljol.info/articles/abstract/10.4038/jccpsl.v15i1.4934/.
Talagala, N., Rajapakshe, L., & Yakandawala, H. (2004). National Survey on Emerging Issues among Adolescents in Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka: UNICEF Sri Lanka.
Tissera, S. et al. (2014). The Use of Emergency Contraception Pill (ECP) among Callers to the Happylife (HL) Contact Centre, FPA Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 36(16).
United Nations Secretariat. (2005). Designing Household Survey Samples: Practical Guidelines. s.l.: Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division, United Nations Secretariat.
WHO. (2007). Global and Regional Estimates of the Incidence of Unsafe Abortion and Associated Mortality in 2003. Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO. (2020). Policies, programme and services for comprehensive abortion care in South-East Asia Region. New Delhi: World Health Organization: Regional Office for South-East Asia; World Health Organization.
WHO. (2022). Abortion care guideline. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 The Research Publication
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
