Background of the Study

Abortion is the loss of pregnancy. It can be defined as the expulsion

from the uterus of the product of conception before the 28 weeks of

pregnancy. It can be unintentional (spontaneous) or induced.

Approximately 46 million abortions are performed worldwide every year.

Of these 26 million are said to occur in places where abortion is legal

the other 20 million occur where the procedure is illegal. The world ratio

is 26 induced abortions per 100 known pregnancies.

19 million unsafe abortions occur around the world annually and 68000

of these results in the women death and much more sustain long term

damage such as perforated uterus and infertility (Department of

Reproductive Health and Research World Health Organisation (2003)).

Nearly 40 women every minute risk their lives and health by undergoing

unsafe abortions. There are more than 40 million unsafe abortions each

year in Africa. More than 200000 children worldwide lose their mothers

every year from abortion-related deaths

(http://futurechoices.net/shows/ispaasavglives.html).

Although illegal and highly restrictive in Nigeria abortions take place in

large numbers under both safe and unsafe conditions. Nigerian women

each year obtain approximately 610000 abortions a rate of 25

abortions per 1000 women aged 15-44. An estimated 40% of abortions

are performed by physicians while the remaining 60% are performed by

non-physician providers including pharmacists nurses midwives

paramedics and women themselves (International Family Planning

Perspectives Dec 1998).

Over the years attempts made to legalize abortion in Nigeria have

always met with stiff opposition from man and woman of good

conscience. The crusade to legalize abortion did not start from Nigeria.

It remains an imported phenomenon and propagated by pro-abortion

groups like Society of Family Health (SFH) Medical Women Association

of Nigeria (MWAN) National Council for Women Societies (NCWS)

National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) United Nation

International Children Education Fund (UNICEF)

Non-governmental establishment and other group received funds from

donors to promote women Reproductive Rights in Nigeria. They

introduced this Bill in the National Assembly but suffered crushing defeat

in their attempt to make it a National Law. Attempt was also made to

pass the Bill in Imo State House of Assembly. The move was supported

by members of the House: Mr. Stan Dara Mbadiwe Emelumba Clinton

Amachi Dr. John Egbuchulam the deputy speaker Sir Jonas Okeke

and others encouraged by some women organisations such as Women

Advancement for Economic and Leadership Empowerment (WAELE)

MWAN NCWS and NAWOJ. These women organisations based their

argument on what they termed “the numerous deaths arising from

pregnancy and childbirth in Imo State.

In her presentation MWAN boss Nwokocha (2008) a gynaecologist

opined that the passage of the Bill would guarantee the safety of Imo

Women during pregnancy and childbirth. On the abortion aspect of the

Bill which has generated so much controversy Nwokocha further

observed that 34000 Nigerian women die every year from incidence of

unsafe abortions because the Nigerian government encourages the

existence of quacks in that they are doing nothing to stop or curtail their

activities. The news spread like wildfire that the Bill to legalize abortion

had been sent to Imo State House of Assembly. Sensitization and

mobilization were carried out by the Catholic Bishops and Christian

Association of Nigeria (CAN). On the appointed day for the public

hearing June 1 2009 more than 4500 Christians marched to the Imo

State House of Assembly to register their protest against the

pro-abortion Bill. They immediately started chanting all manner of

anti-abortion songs as soon as they got to the entrance door of the

House of Assembly. Obviously intimidated by the number of people who

stormed the Assembly complex to kick against the Bill the lawmakers

unanimously agreed to throw out the controversial Bill

(http://www.vanguard.ngr.com/2009/06/24).

But in recent times with the alarming rate of conduct of unsafe abortion

in Nigeria with its related complications the health sector and other

organisations committed to protecting women’s’ health and reproductive

rights have been compelled to strongly re-visit the issue with the hope

that any woman who decides to terminate a pregnancy would receive

adequate care.

Statement of Problem

The much debated issue of legalization of abortion in Nigeria has

become a source of great concern today. Because of the diversity of the

Nigerian populace religiously culturally and educationally it has become

increasingly difficult to come to a compromise about this burning issue.

People from various backgrounds have different notions views and

reasons why abortion should be legalized or not legalized. The

researcher wants to sample out the opinion of parents of Senior

Secondary School Students on this issue because abortion is common

among the adolescents and young persons within this educational level

and the unpleasant consequences of such children. The parents are

affected in various ways financially psychologically socially and

religiously. So the researcher is interested in knowing the opinion of

parents concerning legalizing or not legalizing abortion in Nigeria.

Objective of the Study

This study is aimed at:

i) Finding out the opinion of parents of Senior Secondary School

Students on legalizing abortion

ii) Finding out how parents handle teenage pregnancy

Significance of the Study

When the opinion of parents of Senior Secondary School Students are

sampled out the Federal Ministry of Health and other non-governmental

organizations that are committed to protecting women’s health and

reproductive rights will study the reasons why abortions should or should

not be legalized and the findings will be used to come up with a better or

more acceptable way of handling the issue of abortion in Nigeria.

Research Questions

i) What is the opinion of parents of Senior Secondary School

Students on legalizing abortion?

ii) How do parents handle teenage pregnancy?

Scope of the Study

This study is concerned with finding out the opinion of parents of Senior

Secondary School Students on legalizing abortion in Nigeria.