By Ogaziechi Theodore

The word abortion in many parts of the world generates public controversy and debate. In most cases the debate centres on ethics, morals, religion and legality. Abortion and abortion-related issues have featured prominently in the politics of nations and have often involved the opposing "pro-life"
and "pro-choice" social movements. The word is so contentious that at mere mention of it makes people keep mum so as not to be quoted or held responsible for their comments on the taboo subject. Even though some medical experts say that the foetus at a certain stage cannot survive outside the womb because it is not viable, some churches maintain that abortion is the termination of human life. For adherents of such religions any form of abortion is against their doctrines and translates into killing.


Abortion which is defined by the WHO as the
termination of pregnancy before the age of viability is legal in Nigeria even though many people, including lawyers do not know. The only snag is that the law on
abortion is restrictive. It only allows the procedure when the life of the pregnant woman is in danger.
Besides the restrictive nature of the law, termination of pregnancy is very common and most procedures are performed under unsafe and clandestine conditions giving rise to many deaths and disabilities.

An unsafe abortion is the termination of a
pregnancy by persons lacking the necessary skills, or in an environment lacking the minimal medical standards, or both. The WHO reports that each year nearly 42 million women who had unintended
pregnancies went for abortion. In 2007 a survey conducted collaboratively by the WHO and Guttmacher Institute, showed that 20 million unsafe abortions took place each year, mostly in countries like Nigeria where abortion law is restrictive.

According to WHO and Guttmacher, approximately 68,000 women die annually as a result of complications of unsafe abortion and between two million and seven million women each year survived unsafe abortion but sustained disabilities. They also concluded that abortion is safe in countries where it is legal, but dangerous in countries where it is illegal because it is performed clandestinely. The WHO reports that in developed regions, nearly all
abortions (92%) are safe, whereas in developing countries, more than half (55%) are unsafe.

In Nigeria, it has been established that unsafe abortion is a major contributor to the nation’s high maternal mortality rate of 545 deaths per 100,000 live births which is one the world’s highest. According to the Centre for Reproductive Rights, 34,000 women die annually in Nigeria from complications of unsafe abortion. The figure has made abortion a worrisome issue and a major contention for Nigeria. Official statistics on the prevalence of abortion in Nigeria are not readily available because of the restrictive nature of the procedure.


It has been estimated that one in 10 Nigerian women of childbearing age have had an abortion. A 1996 WHO and Guttmacher Institute study based on a
nationally representative sample of 672 health facilities that were considered potential providers of abortions or post abortion care estimated that 610,000 abortions occurred each year in Nigeria.
With the Country’s growing population, the annual number of abortions is estimated to have increased to 760,000 abortions by 2006 let alone 5 years later. The study further revealed that women of all
backgrounds have abortions, but the proportion varies among population groups.

When analysed according to religious affiliations, the proportion of women who have had an abortion is higher among Catholics (19%) than among Protestants and Muslims (11% and 5%, respectively).

^^This should be in family section.