Socio-cultural factors in adolescent septic illicit abortions in Ilorin, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

PIP: In 1987-1989, researchers interviewed 192 adolescents admitted to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) in Nigeria for septic illegal abortions to determine the sociocultural factors of septic illegal abortions among adolescents and the effects of these abortions on the population. The 2 major complications resulting in the patients being admitted to UITH were hemorrhage (42.2%) and septicemia (30.7%). The abortion rate at UITH stood at 94.6/1000 deliveries representing an increase. Adolescents made up 74.4% of all induced abortions which accounted for 60.3% of all gynecological admissions. Most patients (72.5%) were between 15-19 years old. Just 12.5% lived with both parents--an example of the break down of the family which traditionally prepared children for integration into adult society. 81.3% had a primary education, but only around 30% of parents had a primary education. School officials expelled 50% of the patients thereby making expulsion from school the leading social consequence of adolescent septic illegal abortion. Indeed neither the education system nor the family were prepared to teach family life education to prevent these unwanted pregnancies. In Nigeria, since abortion is considered immoral, the adolescents had little choice but to seek a clandestine abortion. Moreover, many adolescents were poor so they opted for free abortion services which were often provided by charlatans. A shift from a rural society to an urban society also contributed to an increase in abortions. The government must emphasize maternal and child health services, especially liberalization of abortion. Further, it must make family planning education and services available to adolescents. In addition, the mass media should be exploited to spread information about the adverse consequences of adolescent illegal abortions.