Abortion in Nigeria

In Nigeria, abortion is illegal and perceived to be a taboo except if it is performed to save the life of a woman. Abortions that meets these requirements are considered legal provided two physicians certify that the pregnancy poses a threat to the life of the woman. Abortion, which has been one of the most controversial issues in the Nigerian society is governed by two laws, one for the predominantly Muslim state in Northern Nigeria and another for the predominantly Christian states in Southern Nigeria. Related to criminal law of India and Pakistan, the Penal Code, Law No. 18 of 1959 is in effect in the predominantly Muslim state in Northern Nigeria. In the Southern states, the holding of Rex v. Bourne is applied, which allows abortions to be performed for physical and mental health reasons.

Statistics

According to a research made by the Guttmacher Institute in 1996, Nigerian women obtain approximately 610,000 abortions, a rate of 25 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 each year. These figures are estimated to have increased to 760,000 in 2006. The research further revealed that only 40% of abortions are performed by physicians with improved health facilities while the remaining percentage are performed by non-physicians.

Impact of strict abortion laws

Since abortion is illegal in Nigeria, many women resolve to unsafe abortion methods thereby leading to abortion-related complications and increasing mortality and morbidity rates in the country. In a further research made by the Guttmacher Institute, an estimated 456,000 unsafe abortions are done in Nigeria every year. In a joint research carried out by the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria and Nigeria's Ministry of Health, estimates of women who engage in unsafe abortion were put at about 20,000 each year.