A non-governmental organisation, IPAC has called for a review of Nigeria’s abortion law, saying no fewer than 760,000 girls within the age bracket of 25 reportedly carry out abortion annually.
Addressing participants drawn from various media house in the country, at the just concluded 3- day training organised by the organisation in Abuja, Dr Godwin Akaba, a consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada said abortion is the highest promoter of maternal mortality in Nigeria.
According to him, “Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate due to abortion has increased over the years and it is on record that over 400 women die as at the time this survey was carried out this year.” He however frowned at the low response from women accessing medical help with regards to pregnancy, adding that less than 60% of women in Nigeria attend Ante-natal out of which less than 36% give birth in the hospital.
He added that unsafe abortion contributes to at least 13% of maternal mortality adding however that more than 456,000 unsafe abortions are done with a conservative estimate of 3,000 women dying yearly in Nigeria.
“Women who survive unsafe abortion may suffer acute and short term complications including haemorrhage, sepsis, trauma to various organs as well as long term sequelae like infertility and increasing risk of ectopic pregnancy. “Globally, causes of maternal mortality include Eclampsia, 12%, Severe bleeding, 24%, Obstructed Labour, 8%, Indirect Cause, 20%, infection, 15% and Unsafe Abortion, 13%. These Unsafe abortion amounts to 67,000 deaths each year.”
Akaba listed lack of contraception access and use as the leading cause of maternal mortality as this results in unintended pregnancy, which could lead to unsafe abortion adding that only 10% women in Nigeria use modern method contraceptives.
By: Adeola Turkuru
The National Mirror News
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
STOP paying for airtime and electricity, Let your phone pay its bills with ScreenT
You may also like
Comrade Lemii Christian Emerges Chairman of NANNM Rivers State Branch in Historic Victory
PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA Following the long awaited National Association of N…
FG Supports Robotic Surgery Expansion to Reduce Medical Tourism
Nigeria is taking another step toward strengthening specialised healthcare …
Complete Knee Replacement Rehabilitation Package in Lagos
Knee replacement surgery is a major step toward pain relief and improved mo…
NAMDA threatens strike over unpaid medical lecturers’ allowances
The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has warned…
Resident Doctors Signal End to Strike Threat After High-Level Talks with Gbajabiamila
The threat of a nationwide indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of…
