APPRAISAL OF THE HEALTH OF WOMEN: RIGHTS OF WOMEN TO ABORTION

Abortion is prohibited in Nigeria and many other nations, and it carries a harsh prison penalty unless conducted to save the pregnant woman's life. However, a significant amount of clandestine abortions are still carried out on a regular basis, frequently with terrible implications for the women's lives and health. This study adopted doctrinal analysis. Primary and Secondary sources applicable to this research were relied upon. The primary sources applicable to this research included but were not limited to; relevant statutes some of which include the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended), Abortion and sterilization Act 1975, Maternal Protection Act 1949, and international instruments applicable to the discourse. In addition, legislation and reported judicial authorities were applied. The Secondary sources included but were not limited to articles by authors, books on women right to abortion, internet sources, journal articles, magazines. The study found that the existing legislation in Nigeria and other countries did not cover the Rights of Women to Abortion. The study further found that countries impose criminal penalties for women who undergo abortion which should no longer be the current standard. The study recommended that the Federal Ministry of Health should try to ensure that bills are passed in order to effectively create laws for the rights of women to abortion and requirement to ensure safe and legal abortion. The legislation must give a clear definition of rights of women to abortion, the penalties upon abortion should be reviewed. The study concluded that the existing legislation on rights of women to abortion is ineffective especially in Nigerian medical sector and that there is an urgent need to repeal this existing legislation.