BMC Public Health
Volume 18, Issue 1, 2018

Association between induced abortion and suicidal ideation among unmarried female migrant workers in three metropolitan cities in China: A cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Luo M. , Jiang X. , Wang Y. , Wang Z. , Shen Q. , Li R.* , Cai Y.
  • a School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
  • b School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
  • c School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
  • d School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
  • e School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
  • f Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
  • g School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China

Abstract

Background: Despite reports of mental health issues, suicidality has not been closely examined among the migrant population. The association between induced abortion and suicidal ideation is unknown among unmarried female migrant workers of reproductive age in China. This study aims to examine induced abortion and suicidality among the Chinese migrant population. Methods: We recruited 5115 unmarried female migrant workers during 2015 to 2016 from Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, and collected demographic, psychosocial, reproductive and mental health information using structured questionnaires. We used logistic regression models to examine the association between lifetime induced abortion and suicidal ideation during the past year among the subjects. Results: Overall, 8.2% of the subjects had suicidal ideation during the past year, and 15.5% of the subjects experienced induced abortion. Induced abortion was associated with nearly twice the odds of having past-year suicidal ideation (Odds ratio, OR = 1.89; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.46, 2.44) after adjusting for age, education, years in the working place, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, daily internet use, attitude towards premarital pregnancy, multiple induced abortion, self-esteem, loneliness, depression, and anxiety disorders. The association was stronger in those aged > 25 (OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 2.16, 5.28), with > 5 years of stay in the working place (OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 2.02, 4.39), the non-anxiety group (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.74, 3.00), and the non-depression group (OR = 2.94, 95% CI = 2.08, 4.15). Conclusions: Induced abortion was associated with increased odds for suicidal ideation among the unmarried female migrant workers in urban cities in China. More attention should be paid to the mental health of the population. © 2018 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Mental health Suicidal ideation female migrant workers Induced abortion

Index Keywords

induced abortion Abortion, Induced China Single Person single (marital status) human epidemiology statistics and numerical data Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans psychology Adolescent female risk factor Beijing Risk Factors Cities questionnaire pregnancy city adult migration Transients and Migrants suicidal ideation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047007642&doi=10.1186%2fs12889-018-5527-1&partnerID=40&md5=dc28827a0b8b9521da3ea4033a3062c6
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5527-1
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English