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Assessing the Prevalence and Determinants of Unwanted Pregnancy and Induced Abortion in Nigeria
Author(s) -
Okonofua Friday E.,
Odimegwu Clifford,
Ajabor Helen,
Daru Patrick H.,
Johnson Agnes
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
studies in family planning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1728-4465
pISSN - 0039-3665
DOI - 10.1111/j.1728-4465.1999.00067.x
Subject(s) - abortion , medicine , obstetrics , pregnancy , family planning , unwanted pregnancy , gynecology , population , demography , environmental health , research methodology , genetics , sociology , biology
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in the Jos and Ife local government areas of Nigeria. A total of 1,516 randomly selected women aged 15–45 responded to a pretested structured questionnaire designed to elicit information concerning previous unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions in a value‐free manner. Nearly 20 percent of the women reported having had an unwanted pregnancy. Of these, 58 percent reported that they had successfully terminated the pregnancies; 32 percent continued the pregnancies; and nearly 9 percent stated that they had attempted termination but failed. Overall, the prevalence of self‐reports of induced abortion was 11 percent. The results reveal that information can be obtained on abortion in areas with restrictive abortion policies if an indirect interviewing approach is used.