BACKGROUND:
The WHO reports that over 700 women die daily from preventable maternal causes, with 75% linked to treatable complications such as unsafe abortion. Unsafe abortion alone accounts for 7.9% of global maternal deaths, and 45% of all abortions are considered unsafe.

OBJECTIVES:
A global umbrella review seeks to consolidate evidence on the prevalence of induced abortion, repeated induced abortion, and determinants among women of reproductive age to inform global health policy.

METHODS:
An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses conducted, assessing methodological quality via AMSTAR. Heterogeneity and publication bias were evaluated using Cochran’s Q, I², Egger’s test, and funnel plots. Random-effects meta-analysis estimated pooled effects, with subgroup analyses by region. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251067243).

RESULTS:
This umbrella review analyzed eight systematic reviews comprising 202 studies across 83 countries, involving over 12 billion women. The global prevalence of induced abortion was 13.18%, with Africa showing a higher rate (17.91%). Five reviews on repeated abortion included 145 studies and over 613,000 women, revealing a global prevalence of 32.21%. Determinants of repeated abortion spanned five domains: demographic, socioeconomic, marital/reproductive history, sexual/reproductive health, and behavioral/educational. Key factors included young age, low income, unintended pregnancy, and alcohol use, while contraceptive use was protective.

CONCLUSIONS:
This umbrella review highlights a global induced abortion prevalence of 13.18%, with Africa showing higher prevalence (17.91%) and repeated abortion reaching 32.21% worldwide. Key determinants include socioeconomic, sexual/reproductive health, and behavioral factors. This revealed that induced abortion remains a significant global public health issue, with notable regional disparities and high prevalence of repetition.

KEY MESSAGE:
Policymakers should prioritize targeted interventions addressing identified determinants, especially in Africa. Strengthening access to contraceptives and reproductive education is essential to reduce unintended pregnancies and repeated abortions among women of reproductive age. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and improved reproductive health education, especially in high-prevalence regions. Poster session 4 (Group B)