Nigeria
stats
- According to the 2008 Nigeria Demographic & Health Survey, the contraceptive prevalence rate for modern methods was 9.7% (2008 est.)
- USAID projects that 20% of women have an unmet need for family planning services
- 610,000 abortions are performed in Nigeria annually*
- 40% of abortions are performed by physicians, while the remaining 60% of abortions occur outside of healthcare facilities by individuals who are not physicians*
- 12% of pregnancies in Nigeria end in abortion*
- Maternal mortality: 1,000 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births*
- In West Africa, 1 in 8 maternal deaths are attributed to abortion*
ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING & CONTRACEPTIVES
Currently, Nigerian women do not have adequate access to family planning services. Beyond just increasing access to health services, it is important to ensure that the government implements high-quality family planning services.
Challenges to implementing family planning services and promoting reproductive rights: (according to UNFPA)
1st National Family Planning Conference (2010) Abuja, Nigeria
Click here to see a list of reproductive health & family planning projects in Nigeria
Challenges to implementing family planning services and promoting reproductive rights: (according to UNFPA)
- misconceptions about family planning methods
- male child preference
- "inadequate demand creation efforts" for family planning services
1st National Family Planning Conference (2010) Abuja, Nigeria
- Goal: "improve access to family planning in Nigeria" by analyzing "the reasons why significant progress had not been made on implementation of family planning related policies" (UNFPA)
- The Conference also aimed to promote leadership among government agencies with regards to family planning services and budgeting.
Click here to see a list of reproductive health & family planning projects in Nigeria
abortion
- Abortion is illegal in Nigeria, except in cases to save the life of the mother.
- In many areas, abortion is considered a taboo subject, which means that women are often not educated on their with their reproductive rights, places where they can receive safe abortions, and the health risks associated with unsafe abortions.
- The high level of abortions in Nigeria is directly related to the low rate of contraceptive use in the country. Because contraceptives and family planning services are often inaccessible in Nigeria, women rely on illegal abortions to deal with unplanned pregnancies.
- The inability of the Nigerian government to recognize the importance of promoting women's reproductive rights leads women to put their health and lives at risk by obtaining illegal abortions.
- Nigerian society is a clear example of cultural standards hindering the ability of women to practice their reproductive rights.
- There have been 2 attempts to change the abortion laws in Nigeria, however, both attempts failed. Conservative women's groups argued that changing the laws would increase promiscuity among women and lead to a moral shift in the country.
- "Women need to be educated about their rights over their body and given opportunities to plan their families, but it must be done in a way that protects public morality." -Saudata Sani, a female member of the House of Representatives
- Reproductive Health. UNFPA Nigeria, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://nigeria.unfpa.org/reproductivehealth.html>.
- The Incidence of Induced Abortion in Nigeria. Guttmacher Institute, Dec. 1998. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.guttmacher.org /pubs/journals/2415698.html>.
- Walker, Andrew. Saving Nigerians from Risky Abortions. BBC News, 7 Apr. 2008. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7328830.stm>.