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International Conference on Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain (June 15-16, 2016 Philadelphia, USA) Index Terms: Condom, Sexual Partner, Students, Voluntary interruption of pregnancy 2 The main factors behind Voluntary Pregnancy Termination (“VTP”): the case of female students at the University of Yaoundé II

MAKALAT Sylvie Lore

The practice of abortion in all its forms exists in all countries of the world, regardless of the legislation recommended. Despite its prohibition in Cameroon by the penal code, clandestine abortion continues to be carried out everywhere and in deplorable conditions, leading to many disastrous consequences. It must be noted that post-abortion reproductive health (RH) deaths have become the second leading cause of maternal mortality in Yaoundé because there have been 32 to 46% abortions among women of childbearing age since 1987. The majority of these women are 24-year-olds and adolescents (10 to 19 years old). The main objective of the collection work carried out over a period of 1 month from September 1 to 31, 2018 was to highlight the factors that lead to voluntary abortions among female students at the University of Yaoundé 2. To this effect, we conducted a quantitative, explanatory and analytical cross-sectional study on a sample of 504 female undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students through a questionnaire of about forty questions with a closed majority. The results of the field survey show, after analysis and synthesis, that abortion practice could be influenced by the use of contraceptive methods and their frequency of use. Similarly, the multiplication of sexual partners would expose students to unwanted pregnancies and therefore induced abortions. Girls’ perceptions, attitudes and knowledge about Voluntary Pregnancy Interruptions combined with their desire to pursue further education would be factors in the decision to terminate unwanted pregnancy. It is therefore incumbent upon us to address this public health problem in such a way as to combine the strengths of the various stakeholders: from the Ministry of Public Health to administrative and traditional authorities, NGOs and the community. Priority will be given to raising public awareness of the systematic use of condoms to reduce unwanted pregnancies, including induced abortions that cause sterilization, death and other

consequences.