Clandestine abortion a greater challenge for Pakistani women–from bypassing mothers in laws to husbands

With high prevalence of induced abortion, Pakistani woman’s household living arrangements determines whether she is allowed to access abortion services or has to seek a clandestine abortion. Previous studies suggest a shift of role among various players and affect of some social changes in decision making process to seek abortion. The paper aims to unfold this process at household level in span of last ten years. The methodology includes an extended analysis of two studies carried out in 2002 and 2012.
Initial analysis suggests notable changing patterns of family type from joint to nuclear as contributing factor for choices of abortion seeking behavior. Furthermore, husbands’ role is still very dominant however they are becoming more supportive than earlier that helps reducing clandestine abortions. Role of the mother-in-law is diminishing or even supportive. Further analysis will provide deeper insights into these changes and whether it surmounts to better access to abortion services for women especially in poor and rural areas.