Abortion Rate Increases In Nigeria As It Hits 1.2 Million A Year, With Highest Rates In North East

A study released by Guttmacher Institute and the

University of Ibadan show that approximately 1.25

million abortions happened in the year 2012, a drastic

increase from 610,000 in 1996.



According to the Guardian, the study which is titled,

"The Incidence of abortion in Nigeria" attributed the

increase to a higher population and a rise in the

abortion rate in the country.



The researchers discovered that Nigeria has a low level

of contraceptive use and as a result, a quarter of 9.2

million pregnancies in the country were unplanned and

they usually ended in abortion.



One of the lead researchers, Prof. Isaac Adewole

stated:

When contraception is not used or fails,

the evidence suggests that women with

unwanted pregnancies often have unsafe

abortions that put them at risk for

adverse consequences. We hope these

findings inform discussions on the public

health benefits of allowing expanded

access to comprehensive abortion care

for Nigerian women.



The abortion rates vary within geographical zones, the

highest being in the North East in states like, Adamawa,

Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. Also in the

South South zone states like, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross

River, Delta, Edo and Rivers.

The Director of International Research at the

Guttmacher Institute, Dr. Akinrola Bankole emphasized

that abortion is illegal in Nigeria except when it's done to

save a woman's life.



However he added,

Still abortions are common, and most

are unsafe because they are done

clandestinely, by unskilled providers or

both.



Source- That1960Chick