KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF UNSAFE ABORTION AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN OYO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Abstract
Abortion is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality especially in developing countries where crude methods are frequently used. Studies on the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of unsafe abortion among in-school adolescents are sketchy. This study was conducted to fill these gaps in knowledge. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted while simple random sampling technique was used to select five secondary schools in Oyo West Local Government Area. Data were collected from 200 female participants using validated questionnaires and analyzed with descriptive and Chi-square (χ2) statistics to answer three research questions and test two hypotheses, respectively. The result revealed that 83% of in-school adolescents had good knowledge of abortion, 80% had a positive attitude toward abortion, while 65% indicated that they had carried out abortion. Furthermore, the result revealed that attitude significantly influenced the practice of unsafe abortion (χ2 = 30.307, p < 0.05), while age did not (χ2 = 4.830, p > 0.05). The study concluded that female in-school adolescents (13-19) age bracket had good knowledge and positive attitude toward abortion and had practiced abortion more than once. The study recommended effective counseling and targeted health campaigns on the danger of engaging in unsafe abortion among in-school adolescents.
References
Abiola, A.H., Oke, O.A., Balagun, M.R, Olatona, F.A., Adegbesan-Omilabu, M.A.(2016). Knowledge, attitude, and practice of abortion among female students of two public senior secondary schools in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Lagos. Journal of Clinical Science, 13,82–87.
Alabi, M.A., Bello, B.M. & Maina, B.W. (2024). Gender norms and attitude towards abortion among very young adolescents in Kenya and Nigeria. 1-15 https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.04.08.24305479
Atuhaire, S. (2019). Abortion among adolescents in Africa: a review of practices, consequences, and control strategies. International Journal of Health Planning Management,34(4),28-42. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hpm.2842
Balogun, M. R, Olatona, F. A, & Adegbesan-Omilabu, M. A. (2016). Knowledge, attitude and practice of abortion among female students of two public senior secondary schools in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Lagos State. Journal of Clinical Sciences, 13, 82-87.
Bell, S.O., Omoluabi, E., OlaOlorun, F., Shankar, M., & Moreau, C.(2020). Inequities in the incidence and safety of abortion in Nigeria. BMJ Glob Health, 5(1), e001814.
Bobo, T.I., Bakare, T.Y., Ayotunde, O.O., Bobo, O.O.(2025). Knowledge and the associated factors toward safe abortion among undergraduate students in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The Nigerian Health Journal, 25(1), 192 –201. https://doi.org/10.71637/tnhj.v25i1.957
Cadmus, E. O & Owoaje, E. T. (2011). Knowledge about complications and practice of abortion among female undergraduates in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine, 9(1),19-23.
Espinoza, C., Samandari, G., & Andersen, K. (2020). Abortion knowledge, attitudes and experiences among adolescent girls: A review of the literature. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 28(1), 175–195. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48617623
Perera, J., De Silva, T., & Gange, H. (2014). Knowledge, behavior and attitudes on induced abortion and family planning among Sri Lankan women seeking termination of pregnancy. Reproductive Health Profile, 49, 14-17.
Ramakuela, N. J., Lebese, T. R., Maputle, S. M, et al. (2016). Views of teenagers on termination of pregnancy at Muyexe high school in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 8(2),1-6.
Schiavon, R., Troncoso, E, & Polo, G. (2013). Increasing abortion-related hospitalization rates among adolescents in Mexico in the last decade, by age group and by state of residence. In: C. Espinoza et al. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters 2020, 28(1), 175-195. Proceedings of the 15th World Congress on Human R; 2013 Mar 13-16; Venice. Rome: Giornale Italiano di Ostetricia e Ginecologia; 2013. p. 319-323. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/33153592
Thomas, G, Gedif, T, Abeshu, M. A, & Geleta, B. (2016). Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding medication abortion among regular undergraduate female students in College of Social Sciences Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Advances in Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety, 5(1).
Tunde, A. I. (2013). Socio-economical and sociological factors as predictors of illegal abortion among adolescent in Akoko west local government area of Ondo state, Nigeria. Public Health Research, 3(3), 33-36.
Upuli, P. & Chrishantha, A. (2018). Knowledge and attitudes on unsafe abortion among the undergraduates of state universities in Western Province, Sri Lanka, Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 24 2 https://doi.org/10.4038/jccpsl.v24i2.8149
Ushie, B.A., Juma, K., Kimemia, G., Ouedraogo, R., Bangha, M., & Mutua, M. (2019). Community perception of abortion, women who abort and abortifacients in Kisumu and Nairobi counties, Kenya. Bourgeois D, editor. PLoS ONE. 12;14(12),e0226120.
WHO (2012). Safe Abortion: Technical and Policy Guidance for Health Systems (2nd edition). Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO (2021). Abortion: Key Facts. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion. [Internet]. 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion
Yorulmaz, Ö. (2023). Are the determinants of attitudes toward abortion changing in Turkiye? Sex Res Soc Policy [Internet]. Available from: https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13178-023-00806-2
