Controlling minds and bodies: understanding socio-cultural barriers related to induced abortion and reproductive health among married women in Rural Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Tomar Pratibha , Pathak Praveen Kumar , Bhakuni Kalpana 
Published: July 2022

Background
In the Global South, a disproportionate magnitude of young married women, who have had unwanted and mistimed pregnancies, undergo unsafe abortion practices. This leads to a heightened burden of maternal and infant deaths in developing countries. Among other things, unsafe abortion practices are often associated with limited contraceptive method-mix with skewed focus on female sterilization, high unmet need for contraception, poor quality of sexual and reproductive health care services, low male involvement in reproductive health matters, and widespread gender inequalities against girl and women restricting their access to quality health care services. However, there is a paucity of scientific evidence related to individual and community level pathways associated with unsafe abortion practices among young married women in the context of developing countries in general, and India in particular.
Objective
The present qualitative study attempts to examine the knowledge, attitude, social norms and practices related to abortion practices that shape sexual and reproductive health status among young married women in rural Uttar Pradesh, India.
Method
Using a qualitative study design, the present study underlines the lived experiences and process of decision-making related to induced abortion and entwined family, social and healthcare-associated challenges faced by young married women in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. Focussed group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) among 37 currently married women aged 18–40 years with at least one child were conducted who were residing across ten selected villages in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Result
Evidence from the study suggests that several women opted for unsafe induced abortion to limit their family size after being unable to use contraception methods in the study villages of Uttar Pradesh, India. Unsupportive behaviour of spousal for childcare, financial hardship, lack of accessibility and affordability of contraception methods, less decision-making power and social norms and customs poses critical barriers to safe abortion practice among young married women. Findings from the study highlight a glaring dearth of access to safe, affordable and quality abortion care services that further elevate the risk of lives among young married and pregnant women in rural Uttar Pradesh.
Conclusion
This study underscored both the individual and community-level perspectives related to the decision-making of induced abortion by young women, or married couples in rural Uttar Pradesh. It highlighted various social stigma and discrimination and health-related complications faced by young married women related to unsafe induced abortions. This calls for programme managers and policymakers for increased investments into high-quality comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and to revitalize efforts for greater male involvement in reproductive health matters to ensure safe pregnancy and child health experiences in the Indian context.