PERCEPTION AND OUTCOME OF ABORTION AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, EDE, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abortion can be defined as the termination of pregnancy by the expulsion of a foetus or embryo from the uterus. Abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced. It is most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy, while spontaneous abortions are usually termed miscarriages. According to the WHO, 19 out of 20 unsafe abortions are carried out in developing countries and common among young women. Of the women obtaining abortion, 85% were younger than 25 years. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the perception and outcome of abortion among female students of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving the use of three stage sampling technique to select 426 female students of Federal Polytechnic, Ede. Quantitative data were collected using validated semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. A 60-point Knowledge scores: ≤ 24, >24 – 41 and > 41 were categorised as poor, fair and good respectively. A 20-point Perception scale with score < 10 and ≥ 10 was categorised as negative and positive perception, respectively. Qualitative data were collected using an In depth interview (IDI) guide from 22 consented participants identified to have experienced abortion from the questionnaire to explore their perception and experience on abortion and its potential consequences. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and p<0.05 as level of significance while Qualitative data were also analysed thematically. Age of the respondents was 21.5 ± 3.0 years. More than half (52.6%) of the respondents had good knowledge, while fair and poor knowledge were 46.0% and 1.4%, respectively. Majority (89.4%) of the respondents had heard of family planning methods but the uptake was low as only one of them used pills. Excerpts from the interview of one of the participants stating reasons for non-adoption of any family planning method; not seen any reason to do it, nothing is pursuing me’. Most of the respondents performed abortion because they were not ready and couldn’t keep the pregnancy. One of the respondents said ‘Because I am not willing to have it. I don’t know that it will lead to pregnancy because it is my first experience of having sex intercourse. More than half (57.5%) of the respondents had positive perception while 57.5% experienced complications as outcome of abortion. Less than half (43.9%) have had sexual experience with 13.4% being pregnant before. The experience/prevalence of abortion amonrespondents was 9.6% and 77.5% of them were performed by professionals. There was a significant association between perception and contributing factor to termination of pregnancies among respondents. The perception was good and more than half of those who had experienced abortion had complication. However, the prevalence of abortion among the respondents was high. It is imperative to employ a holistic approach to educate people on the need for family planning, campaigns to reduce unwanted pregnancy to improve the knowledge, perception and reduce its prevalence in the society. Policies should be formulated to allow safe abortions.