By Fatima Goni
A non-governmental organisation, Leadership Initiative for Youth Empowerment (LIFE), has revealed that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates due to unsafe abortions.
The issue of abortion has always been a controversial topic, especially in conservative societies like Nigeria. While it is a personal and sensitive decision for women, it is also a reflection of the socio-economic and cultural factors within a country.
In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in the rate of abortion among tertiary institutions in Nigeria, and it is high time we take a closer look at this issue and take action to address it.
According to a study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute in 2018, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of abortion in Africa, with an estimated 1.25 million induced abortions occurring each year.
What is even more concerning is that a significant number of these abortions are happening among students in tertiary institutions. The study revealed that 44% of women who had abortions in Nigeria were between the ages of 15-24, and a considerable proportion of them were students.
There are several reasons for this disturbing trend. One of the primary reasons is the lack of access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education. Many students in tertiary institutions do not have accurate information about their sexual and reproductive health, including contraception and safe abortion methods. This lack of knowledge leads to unintended pregnancies, and when students are not prepared for parenthood, they resort to unsafe and often illegal methods of abortion.
Another critical factor is the stigma surrounding abortion. In a country where abortion is highly stigmatized and criminalized, students fear judgment and discrimination if they seek abortion services. This fear of being shamed and ostracized by their peers and society, in general, leads to students resorting to unsafe and clandestine methods, putting their health and lives at risk.
Speaking at a three-day capacity-building workshop in Lagos on preventable maternal deaths, Mokwe Oluwatoyin, LIFE’s Programs Officer, stated “One of our recent studies showed that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion. Over 2 million people are affected annually. Despite abortion being illegal in Nigeria people still undergo unsafe procedures, leading to preventable deaths. Our goal is to reduce these tragedies by educating and empowering young people.”
She emphasised that cultural and religious restrictions hinder access to reproductive health education, contributing to misinformation and stigma.
Moreover, the cost of safe abortion services is a significant barrier for students. Many students come from low-income families and cannot afford the cost of safe abortion services, and thus, they turn to untrained providers or take unsafe abortion pills, which can have severe consequences on their health.
The consequences of unsafe abortions are grave and cannot be ignored. Every year, thousands of women in Nigeria end up with complications like hemorrhage, infection, and even death due to unsafe abortions.
These complications not only affect the physical health of women but also have a significant impact on their mental and emotional well-being.
“Unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal deaths. The irony is that these deaths are preventable, yet restrictive beliefs and policies make solutions difficult. If we don’t educate young people, they will seek information elsewhere, often from unreliable sources.”
It is high time we take action to address the issue of abortion among tertiary institutions in Nigeria. First and foremost, there is a need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education in schools. Students must have accurate and age-appropriate information about their sexual and reproductive health, including contraception and safe abortion methods, to make informed decisions.
There is also an urgent need to remove the stigma surrounding abortion in our society. Women must be able to access safe and legal abortion services without fear of judgment or discrimination. This can only happen if we start having open and honest conversations about abortion and create a more supportive and non-judgmental environment.
In his presentation, Dr. Solaja Olufemi, a gynecologist, highlighted the alarming global and national statistics on unsafe abortions.
“Every year, over 80 million unintended pregnancies occur, leading to about 46 million abortions worldwide. Of these, 20 million are unsafe, performed by unqualified individuals or in inadequate facilities. In Nigeria alone, around 700,000 women undergo unsafe abortions annually, with nearly 100,000 dying from complications. This is a serious issue.”
To address and prevent unsafe abortions, we must focus on solutions such as abstinence, family planning, and awareness campaigns. Establishing accessible family planning services can significantly reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancies, which is the root cause of unsafe abortions.
Furthermore, the government must take steps to make safe abortion services affordable and accessible, especially for students. There should be more public health facilities that offer safe abortion services at an affordable cost, and the government should subsidize the cost of abortion pills for students from low-income families.
The rise of abortion among tertiary institutions in Nigeria is a cause for concern and requires immediate action. We must work towards creating a society where women have access to accurate information about their sexual and reproductive health, can make their own choices without fear of stigma, and have access to safe and affordable abortion services. It is time to prioritize the health and well-being of our students and take a step towards a more progressive and inclusive society.
By Fatima Goni
University of Maiduguri, 400 level
