TITLE:
Perception of Abortion and Abortion Laws by Lawyers in Anambra State Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Chika F. Ubajaka, Prosper O. U. Adogu, Chitoo Ilika, Amobi L. Ilika
KEYWORDS:
Perception, Abortion Laws, Lawyers, Anambra State, Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.5 No.12,
June
26,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Abortion is the
knowing destruction of the life of an unborn child in the womb other than for
the principal purpose of producing a life birth or removal of a dead tissue.
The Nigeria law stipulates that abortion is allowed only where there is risk to
the life of the woman and or to her physical or mental health. This study is
aimed at determining the perception of abortion and the relevant laws by
lawyers in Anambra State, Nigeria. It is a descriptive cross sectional study
carried out between May-June 2010 using pre-tested self administered
questionnaires to collect data from consenting 200 lawyers in the 3 major towns
of Anambra State. All the respondents knew about abortion, recognized health
hazards associated with it and mentioned infertility as the major complication
of abortion (53%) followed by death (52.5%) and bleeding (42.5%). About 80% of
respondents said abortion should be allowed in cases of danger to woman’s life,
rape or incest. Eighty-five percent of the lawyers were aware of the existing
abortion law in Nigeria and 76.5% of this knew abortion was legal only to save
the life of the woman. Only 26% were in support of legalization of abortion.
The Lawyers recommended health education and family planning, among others as
means of preventing abortion and its complications. Stigma associated with
abortion should be removed to improve free reporting of abortion cases for
legal actions. Further research should involve other stakeholders on abortion
to make for a holistic approach to the problem.