ABSTRACT
This study attempted to analyse reasons responsible for
increase in abortion related mortality rates among young women in Benin
metropolis.The survey research design was used to carry
out the study, and the random sampling technique was used in selecting public places; such as
schools, hospitals religious organization and shops in the three Local
Government areas; Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, and Oredo, that makes up the Benin
metropolis. The study was organized using a sample of two
hundred and fifty (250) respondents, randomly selected from these three areas.
Questionnaire and unstructured interview were used to elicit responses from
respondents. The validity of the questionnaire was carried out by three
lecturers from the department. The reliability of the instrument was determined
using the test retest method. The instrument was administered to twenty
respondents who were not part of the final study, and at an interval of two
weeks the same instrument was again administered on the same group of
respondents. The scores obtained were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment
Correlation Coefficient with a result coefficient of 0.68.
The data obtained through questionnaire were analyzed using frequency counts
and simple percentages. Results obtained indicated that:
1.
Abortion was identified to be responsible for the increase in
maternal mortality rate among young women in Benin Metropolis.
2.
Mortality rates in abortion related
cases can be reduced among young women in Benin Metropolis through sex
education.
3.
That there is a need for proper and special approach, which
is individual confidential approach to counselling abortion victims.
4.
That people are of the opinion that if abortion is made legal
maternal mortality rate will not be reduced and will lead to high abortion
incidence.
5.
That government has a lot to contribute to issue of abortion
related maternal mortality.
Conclusively, emphasis should be laid on sex education. A special approach
(individual confidential approach) should be used in counselling abortion
victims, in order to live a life out of shame. Government should provide free
maternal and health services for teenage mothers. In addition, counselling
centres for young mothers as well as social support to take care of unwanted
children should be provided.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title
Page ------------------- i
Certification ------------------- ii
Dedication ------------------- iii
Acknowledgement ------------------- iv
Abstract ------------------ vi
Table of Contents ------------------- vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of Study ------------------- 1
Statement of the Problem ------------------- 5
Research Questions ------------------- 6
Purpose of Study ------------------- 6
Significance of the Study ------------------- 6
Limitations of the Study ------------------- 7
Delimitation of the Study ------------------- 7
Definitions of Terms ------------------- 7
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Concept of Abortion ------------------- 9
Causes and Effects of
Abortion ------------------- 11
Types of Abortion ------------------- 16
Methods of Abortion ------------------- 18
The Abortion Act ------------------- 22
Global
Abortion
Incidence ------------------- 29
Ways of preventing Abortion ------------------- 39
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design ------------------- 40
Population of the Study ------------------- 41
Sample and Sampling
Techniques ------------------- 41
Research Instrument ------------------- 41
Validity of Instrument ------------------- 42
Reliability of Instrument ------------------- 42
Methods of Data Collection ------------------- 43
Data Analysis ------------------- 43
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS
Analysis of Data ------------------- 44
Discussion of Findings ------------------- 59
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS,
CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Summary ------------------- 65
Conclusion ------------------- 67
Recommendations ------------------- 67
Suggestions ------------------- 69
References ------------------- 70
Appendix ------------------- 71
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
of the study
Abortion is a relatively used term. It is the word used to describe the
act of termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of
a foetus or embryo prior to viability. The term “Abortion” most commonly refers
to the induced removal of human pregnancy. It could mean a plan or arrangement
which takes place in the foetus before it can develop properly.
In Nigeria, as in all parts of the world, women experience unplanned
pregnancy. Some of these women seek to terminate their pregnancies by safe
medical methods or by other unorthodox methods available. The procurement of
abortion is by no means a new phenomenon in Nigeria. The main reason why young
girls and women procure abortion is always changing. Increasingly, women
procure abortion due to desire to avoid premarital births and to control family
size (Aboyeji, 2003). However, abortion as it is used in this study is the act
of terminating or stopping the development of a child in the womb of a woman
either by medical operation or self medication.
Abortion,
when induced in the developed world in accordance with local laws is among the
safest procedures in medicine. Notwithstanding, unsafe abortion occurs in
approximately 70,000 maternal death and 5 million cases of disabilities are
recorded yearly, globally (www.wikipedia.com).
Abortion
is an age old practise, it was universally practised but not universally
accepted. It was seen as a social evil, one that brought down the curse of the
gods. The evil notion that primitive people heard about was so profound that it
was believed in some tribes that abortion committed by a married woman could
cause the husband to be sterile especially when the husband is not responsible
(Olaitan, 2003)
The
above reasons did not stop the practise of abortion among primitive people.
Women in the olden days would rather have their pregnancy terminated than to
have the child to be raised in slavery. Pregnancies involving members of the
same family were aborted because it was seen as a taboo. Lactating women who
become pregnant had the pregnancies aborted to ensure the flow of milk for the
living child.
Primitive
men used crude, traumatic and often ineffective means to terminate pregnancy
which led to the deaths of the victims. Today, abortion continues to be
practised whether forbidden or accepted for a variety of social, political,
economic and religious reason that are not completely different from those
given by primitive men (Boyd, 2006).
Over
the years, due to advanced science and technology, man has been able to tackle
problems more effectively than primitive men. Modern man has been able to
eradicate lots of diseases from the face of the earth and invented easier and
faster means of cooking and transportation which is seen as less primitive, why
is he still very primitive in the way he solves the problem of unwanted
pregnancies?
Abortion is seen by many in the world today as
immoral and ungodly, an act that calls for a punishment from both God and man.
Many others still see abortion as a means of regulating the population and
balancing the socio economic needs of the family. For this above reason,
abortion has been the centre of many legal, social, political and religious
debates in the countries all over the world (Jones, 2004)
Abortion
is a life threatening issue, one that has claimed the lives of thousands of
young women and girls all over the world, therefore, it is an issue that
concerns everyone in the society no matter what your stand is on abortion.
Consider a young girl of fourteen who gets pregnant and is desperate for a
solution. Since she is unable to face the consequences of pregnancy at this
age, she may not even know who is responsible for her pregnancy after realising
she is pregnant due to obvious signs of pregnancy (nausea, insomnia, etc). She
may decide to procure an abortion either on her own or with the aid of someone
in order to cover shame. The image is frightening that a young girl of such a
tender age, both physically, psychologically, and emotionally immature finds
herself on an operating table where she gives her body and life to the sharp
instrument of an abortionist.
On
the other hand, this young girl may decide to procure an abortion herself or
may find herself in the hands of quacks such as half-baked nurses, medical
school dropouts, traditional medicine practitioners and other paramedical
quacks which could lead to loss of life or sustenance of severe complications
which may affect the womb. In this situation, who is to blame for her death? Is
it her teachers, parents, peers, the young girl herself, the abortionist or the
society at large?
The
plight of these young adolescents at this period of life is pitiable because
they probably have been exposed to sexual intercourse at a very young age. They
also may have indulged in sex without being aware of the consequences of their
action which in fact speaks of ignorance and innocence. Again, these young
girls may have been lured into sex by older members of the community seeking
pleasure. These individuals may deceive these young girls to engage in
premarital sex.
In
whatever way abortion is performed on these young girls, whoever the
abortionist is and whatever reasons these girls have to procure abortion, the
fact still remains that these young girls are dying daily in their thousands
and nothing has been done to remedy the situation.
Statement of the Problem
Despite
the fact that a large number of women die every day all over the world as a
result of abortion, the practise is still increasing. It is a worrisome problem
worldwide and the rate at which it is procured is alarming. Families have
experienced the trauma of losing a child, marriages have been broken because
some young girls have become barren before marriage, all as a result of too
many abortions. When death from abortion occurs, the argument on who is
responsible is endless. Therefore, it is pertinent to reflect on the abortion
problem and find out what it is that makes young girls who are still at puberty
stage procure abortion. So far, very little has been done on reasons
responsible for adolescents’ procurement of abortion and the increase in
mortality rate. This leaves a gap in Nigerian health education literature and
hence the study.
Research Questions
1.
Is there an increase mortality
rates in abortion related cases among young girls in Benin metropolis?
2.
How can mortality rates be reduced
in abortion related cases among young girls in Benin metropolis?
3.
Which approaches can be used in
counselling abortion victims?
4.
If abortion is legalised, will it
reduce maternal mortality rates?
5.
Is government contributing to
increase in abortion related cases?
Purpose of the Study
The
purpose of the study is hinged on educating young girls in Benin metropolis
about the dangers and complications of abortion as well as to reduce mortality
rate among young girls on related issues.
Significance of the Study
The
findings of this study may help create public awareness on the dangers of
abortion and help in educating young girls on the “do’s and don’ts” of abortion
related issues. This study is geared towards making necessary recommendations
on alternative solutions to abortion. The findings of the study may go a long
way in discouraging young girls from procuring abortion and helping the
government in solving the problem. This study would also form a basis for
further research work in abortion and related problems in Nigeria.
Limitations of the study
This
study was limited geographically to the three (3) local government area that
make up Benin metropolis (Egor, Ikpoba Okha, and Oredo ). It was affected by
the reluctance of various hospitals in Benin metropolis to make public records
on abortion patients available and unwillingness by several young girls who may
have procured abortion to divulge useful piece of information.
There
was also difficulty in circulating and retrieving questionnaire forms due to
high cost of transportation and brevity of time for the project.
Delimitation of the Study
This
study attempted to analyse reasons responsible for increase in abortion and
mortality rates among young women in Benin metropolis
Definition of terms
Abortionist A person who carries out abortion on
pregnant
women in order
to get money.
Insomnia Lack of sleep due to worry on
how to proffer
solutions on
unwanted pregnancies.
Mortality Death especially on a large
scale.
Nausea The feeling that one is
about to vomit as
experienced in early stages of
pregnancy.
Flight Unfortunate
situation obtained from unwanted
pregnancy.
Premarital sex Sex indulged in before marriage.
Primitive Denoting the earliest times of
development.
Procure Persuade or cause to do
abortion.
Trauma An emotionally, painful
and harmful event.
Tender age Used to describe the young and
inexperienced
child