School-Leaving, Contraceptive Use and Induced Abortion among Young Female RH Clinic Clients in Port Au Prince, Haiti

Nancy Murray, Futures Group International
Ilene S. Speizer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kathy Buek, Futures Group Europe
Rachel Barker, Independent Consultant
Tania Viala, Foundation for Reproductive Health and Family Education (FOSREF)
Harry Beauvais, Foundation for Reproductive Health and Family Education (FOSREF)

This study examines the effects of school-leaving on abortion, controlling for important socio-demographic factors using an events history multivariate model. Data were collected in 2004 from youth clients of FOSREF’s reproductive health facilities in Port au Prince. Data from 806 women ages 15-24 were used for this study. Time varying information includes: respondents’ age, age at entry to school and the age at school-leaving, age at first sex, contraceptive use at first sex, age at first and subsequent pregnancies, and wantedness of last pregnancy. Fixed covariates include socioeconomic variables such as religious affiliation, residence and current relationship status. Preliminary results suggest that girls in school who become pregnant are more likely to end the pregnancy in abortion. Use of contraception at first sex was not associated with a higher probability of terminating a pregnancy. Girls who became pregnant at younger ages were also more likely to terminate the pregnancy.