An Assay on the Reasons and Awareness of Consequences of Abortion among Women of Childbearing Age in Chanchaga, Bosso Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria

Abortion is a simple health care intervention that can be effectively managed by a wide range of health workers using medication or a surgical procedure. Comprehensive abortion care is included in the list of essential health care services published by WHO in 2020. Unsafe abortion has significant negative consequences beyond its immediate effects on women health which include infertility and economic burden on the family. Women who develop complications after unsafe abortion may experience a variety of symptoms like vaginal bleeding, fever, abdominal pain, cramping and foul-smelling vaginal discharge, septic shock, anemia, uterine perforation, infection and cervical damage. The objectives are: To assess the causes of abortion among women of child bearing age; to assess the awareness of women of child bearing age on the consequences of abortion; to investigate specific reasons why women, resort to abortion. 100 copies of questionnaires were distributed to women of childbearing age and 85 copies were retrieved up on which the analysis was conducted. The study shows that the women had abortions as a result of various causes ranging from mother’s ill health, fetal abnormalities, use of drugs, stress/fear and malnutrition. The study also revealed that the awareness on the consequences of induced or unsafe abortion is low. Equally, the childbearing age women under study gave different reasons for involving in abortion which include; to stop child bearing, to postpone child bearing, fear of parents, poverty, schooling, too young for pregnancy and advice by the physician. It is obvious that the research identified that abortion is carried out among women of child bearing age regardless of their educational status, marital status and level of exposure to the consequences of the unsafe abortion. The researcher recommends the following: Married couple should engage in family planning to prevent unwanted pregnancy; The married women should be advised to be faithful to their partners to avoid unwanted pregnancy which may results in aborting the pregnancy; Parents should be friendly with their children and teach them sex education with morals; Pregnant women should reduce unnecessary stress; More awareness campaign to enlighten the women of childbearing age on the causes and consequences of unsafe abortion.