Abortion: Public Health Expert decries High Death Rate
Abortion: Public Health Expert decries High Death Rate Voice of Nigeria
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High Rate of Death from Unsafe Abortion in Nigeria Calls for Increased Investment in Sexual and Reproductive Health
Public health experts, including scholars and researchers, have expressed concern over the alarming rate of death resulting from unsafe abortion, particularly among adolescents, in Nigeria. They are urging the government to increase investment in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SHR) to address this issue.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Adolescents
The experts argue that the lives of women and girls aged 15-49 lost daily to abortion are worth more than the funding required to provide the necessary facilities and services to save them. They emphasize the need for comprehensive sexuality education to be provided for adolescents.
This call was made during a special session titled “The Public Health Challenges of Unintended Pregnancies and Abortion: Global and National Dimension,” facilitated by the Academy for Health Development (AHEAD), a non-governmental organization based in Ile-Ife, Osun State, in collaboration with the Guttmacher Institute in New York, USA. The session took place as part of the 5th Scientific Conference of the Society for Public Health Professionals of Nigeria (SPHPN) at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja.
Nigeria’s Burden of Maternal Mortality
Professor Adesegun Fatusi, a renowned expert in Community Medicine and Public Health, revealed that Nigeria has the highest burden of maternal mortality according to the latest research by the World Health Organization (WHO). He stated that at least 67,000 women die annually in Nigeria from pregnancy-related causes, with a daily average of 20 deaths across the country. Approximately 11% of these deaths are due to abortion.
Professor Fatusi emphasized that deaths from abortion are primarily caused by unsafe abortion, as global statistics show that safe abortion does not significantly contribute to maternal mortality. He highlighted the importance of meeting women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health (SHR) needs to reverse and dramatically reduce death from unsafe abortion. This would require additional per capita investment of $27.15, compared to the current investment of $3.11.
Global Overview on Unintended Pregnancies and Abortion
Dr. Jonathan Bearak, a Senior Research Scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, provided a global overview of unintended pregnancies and abortion. He cited a recent survey indicating an increase in unintended pregnancy rates and unintended birth rates among women worldwide. He also noted that abortion rates vary widely among countries, regardless of whether abortion is prohibited or not.
Rising Rates of Unintended Pregnancies and Abortion in Nigeria
Dr. Ejike Oji, a physician and Chairman of the Management Committee of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, highlighted the rising rates of unintended pregnancies and abortion in Nigeria. He explained that when women are unable to prevent unwanted pregnancies, they are more likely to seek abortion, regardless of its legality. This often leads to disabilities, with complications from unsafe abortion being the leading cause of infertility in Nigeria.
The Importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Elizabeth Alatu-Williams, the National Coordinator of the African Youth and Adolescent Network on Population and Development, emphasized that many adolescents engage in unsafe sex, leading to unintended pregnancies and, ultimately, unsafe abortion. She stressed the importance of comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents and young people, which equips them with life skills, values, and decision-making abilities to make informed choices about their sexual health.
Call to Action
Participants at the conference called on the government, religious leaders, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders to prioritize the provision of safe spaces for adolescents. These safe spaces would enable adolescents to make informed choices and protect them from death caused by unintended pregnancies leading to unsafe abortion.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
- SDG 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
- SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
- SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 3.7: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.
- Indicator for SDG 5.6: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.
- Indicator for SDG 10.3: Proportion of individuals who have experienced discrimination or harassment in the previous 12 months based on a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
- Indicator for SDG 17.17: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs. | Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences. | Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. | Proportion of individuals who have experienced discrimination or harassment in the previous 12 months based on a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law. |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. | Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships. |
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Source: von.gov.ng
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