THE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF ABORTION:AN EXAMINATION OF MORTALITY RATES AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE IN BENIN METROPOLIS

Abortion refers to the induced removal of human pregnancy. It could mean a plan or arrangement which takes place in the fetus before it can develop properly. The study was carried out to examine the reasons responsible for increase in abortion and mortality rates among young women in Benin Metropolis. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out to determine whether the legalization of abortion will reduce maternal mortality rates and assess the level of mortality rates in abortion related cases among young girls in Benin Metropolis. Investigation revealed that the Despite the fact that a large number of women die every day all over the world as a result of abortion, the practice is still increasing. It is a worrisome problem worldwide and the rate at which it is procured is alarming. The research design used in this report is descriptive design, utilizing questionnaire method to obtain information from the respondents for this project. A total of 150 (one hundred and fifty) respondents were selected for this study to represent the entire population of the study. For null hypotheses were formulated and tested using the one-way ANOVA and the t-test statistical tools at zero point zero five (0.05) level of significance. Primary data were collected from the primary source which questionnaire was used as an instrument of data collection while secondary data were sources from textbooks, journals, newspapers and the internet were employed. The data were presented on a frequency distribution table and analyzed using simple percentage, while hypothesis was tested using chi-square test. Results obtained indicated that: Abortion was identified to be responsible for the increase in maternal mortality rate among young women in Benin Metropolis; Mortality rates in abortion related cases can be reduced among young women in Benin Metropolis through sex education; there is a need for proper and special approach, which is individual confidential approach to counselling abortion victims; people are of the opinion that if abortion is made legal maternal mortality rate will not be reduced and will lead to high abortion incidence and government has a lot to contribute to issue of abortion related maternal mortality. The findings of the study may go a long way in discouraging young girls from procuring abortion and helping the government in solving the problem. This study would also form a basis for further research work in abortion and related problems in Nigeria. Based on the findings, it is recommended that organizations advocating for safe abortion in countries like Nigeria should focus more efforts on the rights of the Young Women to make choices regarding their health.