Legalization Of Abortion A Necessary Tool To Reduce Maternal Mortality In Nigeria? Assessing The Perception And Support Of The Public In Enugu Urban

ABSTRACT

Background: Abortion is highly controversial in Nigeria and has given rise to an ongoing

debate concerning its legalization as a solution to Nigeria’s high maternal

mortality ratio. But not much is known about the public’s perception and support for

legal abortion as a veritable means to reduce maternal death in Nigeria.

Objective: The study was designed to assess the perception and support of the public

in Enugu urban, of legalization of abortion, as a necessary tool to reduce maternal

mortality in Nigeria.

Method: A descriptive survey design method was adopted for the study. A multistage

sampling technique starting with purposive method was used to select three (3) local

government areas, nine (9) institutions and equal number of males and females from

each institution. A sample size of 384 was calculated and rounded up to 432.A

structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected

were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 20 and Pearson Chi square test was used to

establish relationship between the variables. The value of p < 0.05 was considered

significant.

Results: Majority of the respondents 75.4% do not support abortion and 79.9% do not

support legalization of abortion as a solution to maternal death. The respondents

displayed good knowledge of the causes of maternal death in Nigeria. The causes

majority of them identified, are known to be the major medical and socio-cultural

causes of maternal death. 78.9% of the respondents, know the magnitude of abortion

and 52% know that abortion is a major contributor to maternal death. 67.8%

disagreed that abortion is a human right. Majority of the alternative measures for

solving the problems of maternal death suggested to the government are those that

existing evidence support: provide free and quality health care services 83.2%,

provide adequate coverage of emergency care services for pregnant women 79.8%

etc.

Conclusion: legalization of abortion is not a favoured solution to maternal mortality.

Several alternatives to induced abortion including strengthening the health system

were suggested to the government. The government and all stake-holders should

implement them through wide spread health education programmes at national, state

and community levels in other to educate the public on the health hazards of induced abortion and encourage the use of the alternatives to abortion.