Assessing the prevalence and determinants of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Studies in Family Planning
Title Assessing the prevalence and determinants of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 30
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 1999
Page numbers 67-77
URL http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/10216897
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in the Jos and Ife local government areas of Nigeria. A total of 1,516 randomly selected women aged 15–45 responded to a pretested structured questionnaire designed to elicit information concerning previous unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions in a value-free manner. Nearly 20 percent of the women reported having had an unwanted pregnancy. Of these, 58 percent reported that they had successfully terminated the pregnancies; 32 percent continued the pregnancies; and nearly 9 percent stated that they had attempted termination but failed. Overall, the prevalence of self-reports of induced abortion was 11 percent. The results reveal that information can be obtained on abortion in areas with restrictive abortion policies if an indirect interviewing approach is used.

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