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[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Women's Awareness, Knowledge and Attitudes about Abortion Laws in Nigeria

Akinrinola Bankole1, Gilda Sedgh2, Isaac Adewole3, Rubina Hussain1, Stanley Henshaw4, and Susheela Singh1. (1) Research Division, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 120 Wall Street, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10005, 212-248-1111, abankole@guttmacher.org, (2) Independent Consultant, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 120 Wall Street, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10005, (3) Campaign Against Unwanted Pregnancy (CAUP), 36B Olu-Akerele Street, off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, (4) Research Division, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 120 Wall Street, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10005

At least 20,000 deaths result from unsafe abortions in Nigeria annually. Most of the deaths can be attributed to the fact that abortion is illegal, and so, women obtain them under unsafe conditions which lead to loss of lives. There have been some efforts to advocate abortion law reform, but little is known about women’s knowledge about abortion laws and the circumstances under which they believe that abortions should be permitted. This study examines women’s knowledge and attitudes about abortion, the circumstances under which they would accept laws permitting an abortion, and who should be deciding whether or not to have an abortion. The study uses data obtained from 2960 women aged 15-49 in a community based survey undertaken in 2003 in eight states from the four health zones in Nigeria. The findings of this study will be helpful to policy makers in understanding women’s positions on abortion, including legal and moral considerations.

Preliminary findings show that: 1. Fifty-three percent of women reported either being unmarried or too young, economic status, or interruption of education as the most important reason why a woman would obtain an abortion. 2. Nearly 30% of women believed that a couple together should decide if a woman gets an abortion. Another 20% reported that the woman alone should make the decision and 14% believed it should be up to her husband or partner. 3. Most women do not know of any law regarding abortion in Nigeria—only 35% were aware of any law, however, the vast majority of women (81%) believe that obtaining an abortion is morally wrong.

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