Typologies of women’s abortion trajectories in Burkina Faso: findings from qualitative study

Background: Abortion is a legally restricted, yet common reproductive life event among women in Burkina Faso; however, women’s abortion experiences vary greatly depending on their social and economic capital, partner involvement, and level of knowledge. Using qualitative data collected from women who reported a recent abortion experience, we used a process of typological construction to classify women’s abortion care-seeking experiences across the lifecourse and social conditions. Methods: An initial quantitative survey among a nationally representative sample of women 15-49 years collected information on women’s induced abortion experiences. Women who reported an abortion in the last 10 years were asked if they agreed to participate in a subsequent in-depth interview (IDI) to learn more about their abortion experience. Twenty-five women were purposively sampled and completed an IDI. Using a process of typology construction, we identified attributes of the women’s condition at the time of abortion and aspects of her abortion experience, created a matrix of attributes and cases, and identified emerging relationships. Three types were identified through this process. Results: Twenty-three IDIs were analyzed and grouped into three types: abortion to delay childbearing in adolescence; abortion to space childbirth among women in union; abortion to avoid childbearing among single mothers. Two cases were identified as outliers. Cases were grouped based on the context of their pregnancy, the reason for the abortion and involved decision-makers, and their patterns of care-seeking, including methods and source used. Conclusions: Structural inequities related to gender and wealth were prominent forces shaping women’s abortion experiences. Comprehensive sexuality education coupled with community-based interventions to promote gender equitable relationships and address social stigma related to women’s sexuality could reduce reproductive coercion and unintended pregnancies.