Despite the large number of lives threatened by unsafe practices, abortion remains a highly controversial issue in Nigeria, where it is mostly illegal except to save the life of the mother. Despite the restrictive laws, however, unsafe abortions continue to be a major public health concern in the country, with an estimated 3.5 million induced abortions taking place each year. This is due to a lack of access to safe and legal abortion services, as well as cultural and religious opposition to the practice.
One of the main challenges to accessing safe abortion services in Nigeria is the lack of trained health care providers and facilities. Many healthcare providers lack the skills and knowledge to provide safe abortion services, and there are not enough facilities equipped to provide them. This means that many women are forced to seek out unsafe methods of terminating their pregnancies, often leading to severe complications and even death.
According to data from the World Health Organization, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world, with over 58,000 maternal deaths recorded in 2018, and unsafe abortion was identified as a leading cause of maternal mortality in the country.
“Abortion is a reality in Nigeria, and it is a matter of life and death for many women,” says Dr. Bunmi Olatunji, a Nigeria-based obstetrician-gynecologist and member of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON). “Denying women access to safe abortion services does not reduce the number of abortions, it only makes them more dangerous.”
Despite the challenges, there have been efforts to improve access to safe abortion services in Nigeria. In recent years, organizations such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Marie Stopes International have been working to provide training for health care providers, as well as information and services for women. There have also been calls for the government to amend the restrictive abortion laws and ensure that women have access to safe and legal abortion services.
Experts described the issue of abortion in Nigeria as multi-dimensional and there are different perspectives regarding its legalizations, moral and ethical aspects and how to reduce unsafe abortions.
Progress made
Even though Nigeria still has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world and unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of maternal mortality in the country, over the years, as a result of concerted efforts by key stakeholders, the number of unsafe abortion cases has decreased.
One of the key strategies has been to provide training to healthcare providers in performing safe abortion procedures. This has led to an increase in the number of trained providers and facilities offering safe abortion services. This has also led to an increase in the number of women seeking safe abortion services, leading to a decrease in maternal mortality related to unsafe abortion.
“The availability and accessibility of safe abortion services are essential for the reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria,” said Dr. Olutoyin Oladokun, director of the Nigeria office of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. “We have seen a significant increase in the number of safe abortion procedures performed in the country and a corresponding decrease in maternal mortality. It is a positive development, but we still have a long way to go.”
In addition to training healthcare providers, organizations have also been working to raise awareness about safe abortion services among women and communities. This has led to an increase in the number of women seeking safe abortion services, which is essential to reducing maternal mortality related to unsafe abortion.
Despite the progress that has been made, there is still much work to be done. The restrictive abortion laws in Nigeria remain a major barrier to access to safe abortion services, and more needs to be done to ensure that all women have access to the services they need. Furthermore, the cultural and religious opposition to abortion services, often stigmatizing women who seek abortion and healthcare providers who provide the services.
“Access to safe abortion is a matter of human rights and it is essential to the well-being of women in Nigeria,” said Dr. Anshu Banerjee, Director for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at the World Health Organization. “We need to continue to work together to provide women with the services they need and to ensure that all women have access to safe abortion services.”
Taking on religion-backed restrictive laws
Despite Nigeria’s restrictive abortion laws, however, unsafe abortions continue to be a major public health concern in the country, with an estimated 3.5 million induced abortions taking place each year. This is due to a lack of access to safe and legal abortion services, as well as cultural and religious opposition to the practice.
In recent years, there has been growing pressure from women’s rights advocates to reform Nigeria’s restrictive abortion laws. These advocates argue that the current laws are harmful to women’s health and well-being, and that they disproportionately affect low-income and marginalized women.
Critics of the current laws point out that they not only criminalize abortion, but also restrict access to essential health services such as post-abortion care. The laws also carry harsh penalties for women who have abortions and for healthcare providers who perform them.
“Nigeria’s restrictive abortion laws have a devastating impact on women’s health and well-being,” said Oladokun. “Women are being forced to seek out unsafe methods of terminating their pregnancies, leading to severe complications and even death. We need to reform these laws so that women have access to safe and legal abortion services.”
Despite the growing pressure for reform, there is significant opposition to changing the abortion laws in Nigeria. Many conservatives and religious groups argue that abortion is morally wrong and that any changes to the laws would be a threat to traditional values