PREVALENCE OF ABORTION AND ITS INFLUENCING FACTORS AMONG WOMEN IN OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abortion is a major health problem responsible for deaths in the prime of life. Maternal deaths in Africa attributable to abortion vary from below 10% to as high as 60% according to WHO estimates The aim of this . study was to assess the prevalence of abortion and its influencing factors among
women in Oredo local government area, Benin City, Edo state. A descriptive study design was used for this study. 200 women was determined by Taro Yamane formula and simple random sampling technique was used to select the 200 respondents from the total population. A structured
interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data from respondents. The questionnaire was validated by experts in the field and the reliability score was 0.8. Data generated were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and they were presented in frequency, tables and
percentages. The socio-demographic characteristics of majority of the respondents indicate that respondents are within the age group of 31-40years (25.5%), married (74%), with tertiary education (25.5%). This study reveals that the prevalence of abortion among women in Oredo Local
Government Area is average (50%) and the factors influencing abortion include did not want to disrupt employment (78.0%) too young to bear a child (81.0%), can’t care for a baby (79.5%), partner refused to accept pregnancy (56.0%), delay, postpone or stop education (63%), fear, shame and guilt (89.5%), lack of sex education (85.5%), and failure of parents to provide guidance (79.0%). In conclusion, high prevalence of abortion was reported hence sexual reproductive health interventions like health education and counseling are needed to reduce the practice of risky sexual behaviors in settings where abortion is illegal and to help reduce maternal morbidity and mortality associated with it.

• :
  • • Name: OSIAN E. A.;
    • Email Address: uuosian@gmail.com
  • • Name: EMOVON O. F.;
    • Email Address: faithlonge2017@gmail.com
  • • Name: AKPOJARO E.;
    • Email Address: abrahamjovy@gmail.com
  • • Name: ELUSOJI C. I.
    • Email Address: celusoji@biu.edu.ng
  • • Name: OHENHEN V.
    • Email Address: victorohenhen@gmail.com
• Keywords: Abortion; Influencing Factors; Women
• Manuscript: PREVALENCE-OF-ABORTION-AND-ITS-INFLUENCING-FACTORS-AMONG-WOMEN