Objective  To examine the knowledge about reproductive health, reasons and impact factors of induced abortion among migrant female workers in Baoan district of Shenzhen city for providing evidences to develop strategies on reducing unintended pregnancy-related induced abortion in the population.

  Methods  Using convenient sampling, we selected two grade A tertiary hospitals in Shenzhen city of Guangdong province as study sites and conducted a face-to-face interview among 3 737 migrant female workers having induced abortion from March 2016 through March 2017 at the two hospitals. Information on demographics, abortion behaviors and knowledge about reproductive health were collected and decision tree analysis was adopted to analyze correlative factors of multiple induced abortions among the participants.

  Results  Valid responses were collected from 3 363 participants averagely aged 26.3 ± 5.4 years. Among the participants, the frequency of induced abortion differed significantly by marital status, whether living with family members, the number of sexual partners, and the perception of health risk related to induced abortion (all P < 0.001). Univariate analysis indicated that significant influencing factors of induced abortion incidence included marital status, with whom living together, the number of sexual partners, and the knowledge about induced abortion related health risk/infertility/reproductive tract inflammation/obstruction of fallopian tubes/backache/perforation of uterus. The results of decision tree analysis revealed that the participants with following characteristics were more likely to have multiple induced abortions: with more unmarried sexual partners, with more than 4 unmarried sexual partners and having correct perception on the risk of induced abortion, being divorced or widowed but having more sexual partners and living together with a spouse or family members, and being married and with fewer sexual partners but having a positive attitude towards unmarried pregnancy.

  Conclusion  The migrant female workers in Shenzhen city are lack of the consciousness on contraception and the knowledge about reproductive health and education programs for reproductive health in the population need to be promoted by relevant social departments.