Pressure and peer influence driving unsafe abortions – Experts

Every day, 34-year-old Rasheedat is haunted by a decision she made a decade ago. The Business Administration graduate from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta, Ogun State, is consumed by guilt and fear that her choice to have an unsafe abortion may prevent her from ever bearing children.

In an emotional recount to DAILY POST, Rasheedat shared the harrowing experience that drove her to seek an unsafe abortion. “When I became pregnant during my ND days, I was scared, confused, and ashamed. Coming from a devout Muslim family, I feared rejection and mockery. A friend introduced me to a woman in Ijebu Ode who performed abortions,” she recalled, describing the agonizing and unsafe procedure that followed.

Now married and still childless, Rasheedat’s story mirrors that of many women in Ogun State entangled in a network of unsafe abortions. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 45% of the 73 million annual abortions worldwide are unsafe, with a staggering 97% occurring in developing countries like Nigeria. Despite legal restrictions, nearly 2 million abortions take place annually in Nigeria, many under perilous conditions.

In response, Ogun State launched the Safe Termination Of Pregnancy (STOP) guideline in May 2023, aiming to reduce preventable deaths among women of childbearing age. However, the stigma and fear of judgment drive many women to unsafe methods. The state is making strides to combat this, training healthcare workers and advocating for legal reforms to address the root causes of unsafe abortions and provide safer options for women.