Abortion is the expulsion of an embryo or fetus that cannot usually live outside the womb. Abortion is one of the most widely scrutinized medical procedures, leading to much research. However, it is a healthcare intervention that can be effectively managed by a wide range of health workers using medication or a surgical procedure.
It is a safe health care intervention when carried out using a method recommended by WHO appropriate to the pregnancy duration and by someone with the necessary skills. However, when people with unintended pregnancies face barriers to attaining safe abortion, they often resort to unsafe abortion. Unsafe abortion is a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy either by people lacking the necessary skills, in an environment lacking minimal medical standards, or both. When a woman or girl is determined to end her pregnancy, she will do so, regardless of the safety and legality of the procedure. Where safe abortion care is unavailable, she will often risk her life with an unsafe abortion because the prospect of continuing the pregnancy is unbearable.
Abortion in Nigeria
The abortion law in Nigeria states that it is illegal unless done to save the mother’s life. Furthermore, it criminalizes abortion with a steep penalty for both the woman and the personnel performing the abortion procedure. If caught, those who violate the law risk a 7-year (the patient) or a 14-year (the performer) jail term.
In Nigeria, various studies have quoted unsafe abortions as responsible for up to 30% of overall maternal mortality. The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) have been at the forefront of the drive to reform abortion laws in Nigeria. Unsafe abortion contributes to a significant proportion of maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria. However, current laws criminalizing it in Nigeria do not reduce the number of abortions. Instead, these strict laws mean that many women are forced to seek the service of unqualified practitioners with resultant high morbidity and mortality, both of which are unacceptable prices to pay for pregnancy. Change is needed at many levels to improve the current situation, including the potential for law reform. These efforts would decrease the need for unsafe abortion with its high maternal mortality and morbidity rate.
The Impact of Unsafe Abortions
Unsafe abortion remains one of the five leading causes of maternal mortality. The risk of complications is much higher than for a safe, legal abortion performed by a doctor. Women can experience severe side effects, be put through unsafe or ineffective procedures, or even die. Every kind of abortion has side effects. The side effects may include damage to the uterus, cervix, bowel, or bladder, infection, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. There also may be an inability to get pregnant in the future due to complications.
Infertility
There’s a minimal risk to your fertility and future pregnancies if you develop a womb infection after the procedure that’s not treated promptly. This can happen when abortions are performed in unhygienic environments or with instruments that have not been adequately sterilized. The infection, known as pelvic inflammatory disease, could spread to your fallopian tubes and ovaries. Most conditions are treated before they reach this stage, and you may be given antibiotics before an abortion to reduce the risk of infection.
Cramping and Bleeding
The most common side effect of medical abortion is heavy bleeding that lasts for a few days. According to experts, cramping and bleeding are natural because abortion pills cause your uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue. While uncomfortable, moderate pain usually indicates that your medication is working. The worst pain and bleeding will happen within the first few hours, but fewer cramps and spots can linger for several weeks.
Negative Emotions
Women frequently choose abortion due to perceived pressures from others, financial concerns, or other detailed forces. Individually and collectively, these pressures strongly relate to the following effects on individuals who have undergone abortion: experiencing more negative emotions about their abortion, facing more disruptions to their daily life, work, or relationships, having more frequent dreams, flashbacks, or intrusive thoughts about the procedure, experiencing more frequent feelings of loss, grief, or sadness about the procedure, experiencing more moral and maternal conflict over their decisions, perceiving a decline in their overall mental health that they attribute to the process, and having a higher degree of desire or need for help to cope with negative feelings about the process.
Death
Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. An unsafe procedure can also cause miscarriage and infections that may damage vital organs. If a person does not perform the process correctly, they may experience immediate complications and physical damage to surrounding organs. This can cause bleeding and, ultimately, lead to death.
Summary
Abortion is supposed to be a safe procedure. However, due to strict laws, it is illegal in Nigeria; thus, many subscribe to illegal, unsafe means, jeopardizing their health. To avoid unwanted pregnancy, use contraceptives or abstain from sex. To clarify any areas of concern, speak to a professional.
