Health sector stakeholders have raised alarm over the concerning rate of unsafe abortions in Nigeria, where approximately 610,000 unsafe abortions occur annually.
This revelation was made during the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Summit 1.0, held in Abuja to commemorate World Contraception Day 2024.
The summit, organised by the Media, Health, and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHRIN), was themed “A Choice for All: Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose.” The event brought together health professionals, policymakers and advocates to discuss the alarming number of unsafe abortions in Nigeria and the urgent need to improve access to contraceptives as a solution to unplanned pregnancies and maternal mortality.
In his opening remarks, the country director of IPAs Nigeria Health Foundation, Dr. Lucky Palmer, emphasized the importance of empowering Nigerian women to make their own reproductive choices. He highlighted the numerous challenges women face in expressing themselves, especially within healthcare settings.
Palmer shared an example of a woman with hearing disabilities who had to rely on her son to interpret a diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease, underscoring the embarrassment and barriers women encounter due to disabilities, financial constraints, or societal pressures. He noted that unplanned pregnancies are preventable and stressed that Nigeria, which contributes 28 per cent of global maternal deaths, must ensure that contraceptives are freely accessible.
“Contraceptives should be available to all women, including young and single women, not just the married,” Palmer stated. He explained that, unlike other animals who engage in sexual activity solely for reproduction, humans also seek pleasure, making access to contraception critical to preventing unnecessary deaths.
Palmer cited alarming statistics: 610,000 unsafe abortions occur annually in Nigeria, resulting in 285,000 complications and 20,000 deaths, with half of these fatalities being adolescent girls. These unsafe abortions, Palmer added, contribute significantly to Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate of 1,500 deaths per 100,000 births—one of the highest in the world.
“Only 16 per cent of Nigerian women of reproductive age use any form of contraception, with even fewer using modern methods,” Palmer revealed. He added that 28 per cent of pregnancies in Nigeria are unintended, and nearly half of these result in induced abortions, particularly among uneducated women and those from low-income communities. “Among girls under 19, 72 per cent of deaths are due to unsafe abortion complications,” he explained.
Despite the legal restrictions, induced abortions are common in Nigeria, with an estimated 1.25 million procedures performed in 2012. Palmer called attention to the fact that although Nigeria has ratified the Maputo Protocol, abortion remains legal only to save a woman’s life, and the country’s contraceptive prevalence rate remains critically low at 16 per cent in 2023.
Board chair of the MHR, Dr. Ufuoma Omo-Obi underscored the importance of ensuring healthcare access, particularly for pregnant women, to combat Nigeria’s heavy maternal mortality burden. He highlighted the need for unified efforts to address maternal mortality rates through improved access to contraceptives.
“Nigerian women should not hesitate to engage in discussions about safe contraception and address the challenges that come with it,” Omo-Obi stated. He stressed that every woman has the right to choose, but restrictive abortion laws in Nigeria, adopted by only five states, limit these rights.
Omo-Obi acknowledged recent progress made under the current administration, which has committed $4 million towards SRHR initiatives, alongside a $6 million contribution from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). He urged more states to adopt frameworks that promote safe reproductive health practices, saying this could significantly reduce Nigeria’s maternal mortality crisis.
National president of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Prof. Rosemary Ogu called on Nigeria’s three tiers of government to expand funding for public health services, including contraceptives and make pregnancy safer for women across the country. She emphasised the importance of allowing Nigerian women to plan and choose freely when it comes to reproductive health.
Dr. Ejike Orji added that while there has been a 40 per cent reduction in maternal mortality over the past eight years, Nigeria still has the highest number of maternal deaths worldwide. “Seventy percent of those who die from unsafe abortions are girls below the age of 15,” Orji said. He stressed that legislative action is crucial to ensuring family planning is adequately funded, noting that the previous Minister of Health withheld funds for three years, but the new minister has already released $4 million to support family planning efforts.
Head of the health promotion department at the Federal Ministry of Health, Barr. Ogbonna Nma revealed that the government is working towards expanding access to safe termination of pregnancies. Nma said discussions are ongoing among relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to amend sections of the criminal code related to abortion, ensuring safer healthcare options for Nigerian women and adolescents.
Nma added that her department is working diligently to educate the public on sexual reproductive health and rights, aiming to reduce maternal deaths across the country.
Executive secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Department, Dr. Elijah Olushola lamented that between 20 per cent to 30 per cent of maternal deaths in Nigeria are the result of unsafe abortions, especially among adolescents and young people. He also pointed out the lack of routine data on abortion, calling for a review of Nigeria’s abortion laws to better reflect the realities of unsafe practices.
Country director of TAConnect, Dr. Lilian Anomnachi emphasised her organization’s focus on improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) interventions. TAConnect has made sexual and reproductive health a priority, aiming to reduce risks for mothers and infants through education on contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and family planning services.
“Our collective efforts are crucial in shaping better SRHR outcomes for women and girls in Nigeria,” Anomnachi stated. She added that expanding access to contraception would empower women to make informed reproductive choices, helping reduce the prevalence of unsafe abortions.
The SRHR Summit 1.0 concluded with a collective call for urgent action to improve access to contraceptives and family planning education, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Stakeholders emphasized the need to curb Nigeria’s high rates of unsafe abortions and reduce maternal mortality by making contraception more accessible and educating women on their reproductive health options.
