PREVALENCE, PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES RELATING TO INDUCED ABORTION AMONG WOMEN IN IDO AND OMI-ADIO COMMUNITIES, OYO STATE

Abstract

Induced abortion is one of the major causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria. However, there is dearth of information on the practice in rural communities. This study therefore was designed to determine the prevalence, perceptions and practices relating to induced abortion among women of reproductive age in the rural communities of Ido and Omi-Adio in Oyo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted. A random sampling technique was used to select 400 participants from households. Data were obtained through twelve Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and interviews involving the administration of a pre-tested questionnaire. The FGD data were recorded on audio tapes, transcribed and analyzed using the thematic approach. Data from the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and Chi-square statistics. The mean age of respondents was 26.6 ±8.9 years. Respondents were predominantly Yoruba (89.0%) and Christians (58.5%). Sixty-six percent of respondents had ever had sex. The participants' overall mean knowledge score assessed using an 11-point scale was 2.1 ±0.9. Fourteen percent of the respondents have had an abortion. More than half (52.7%) of the women who were currently using a contraceptive had had an unwanted pregnancy (p<0.05). The mean age of respondents at the time of abortion was first procured was 20.9 years. A slightly higher proportion of adults aged 25-38 years (50.8%) than young persons aged 15-24 years (49.2%) had had an abortion (p<0.05). More singles (68.4%) than married women (31.6%) had procured an abortion (p<0.05). The providers of abortion services were doctors (31.6%), nurses (22.8%) and Patent Medicine Vendors (19.3%). A higher proportion of the abortions (71.9%) was procured during the first trimester of pregnancy. The reasons given for procuring an abortion were as follow: "not ready" (47.4%). "schooling" (15.8%), "to prevent parents from knowing" (12.3%), "avoidance of shame" (14.0%), "prevention of spouse from knowing" (1.8%), "partner not ready for parenthood" (3.5%), "too young" and "life in danger" (1.8%), eighty-four percent of those who had terminated a pregnancy had at least secondary education compared with 15.8% who had primary or no formal education (p<0.05). A majority (68.4%) of those who had terminated a pregnancy were of the opinion that the practice was necessary under certain circumstances such as incest (74.3%) and rape (67.8%). The participants’ beliefs were that death (95.8%) and infertility (95.5%) were possible consequences of abortion. Majority of the FGD discussants did not support the practice of abortion because of the adverse effect it could have on women's health. It was also disclosed by a majority that there should be punishment for women who procure abortion indiscriminately. Abortion is common among married and unmarried women. An appreciable proportion of providers of the abortion services are quacks. Health education strategies such as public enlightenment and peer education are needed to facilitate the adoption of safe and effective alternative fertility regulation practices.