Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Unsafe Abortion among Female Students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University (JSTU), Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract:

This research was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of unsafe abortion among female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi. Unsafe abortion is entirely preventable. Yet, it remains a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in much of the developing world. Over the past decade, the World Health Organization has developed a systematic approach to estimating the regional and global incidence of unsafe abortion and the mortality associated with it, estimates based on figures for the year 2020 indicates that 19 million unsafe abortions take place each years, this is, approximately one in ten pregnancies end in an unsafe abortion, giving the ratio of one unsafe abortion to about seven live births. Unsafe abortion and its complications are most common among young girls between the ages of 15-25 years especially in developing countries and in Nigeria particularly where restrictive abortion laws are being practiced. Despite the gross under reporting of abortion, unsafe abortion remains one of the five leading causes of maternal mortality (death) in most developing countries. The major objectives of this study are to determine the level of knowledge, evaluate the attitudes, and assess the practice of unsafe abortion among female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. A cross-sectional descriptive study was done with two hundred and fifty (250) respondents selected using the multistage sampling technique. Information collected using a structured self-developed and self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 23.0). The result shows that most respondents have heard of unsafe abortion and their sources of information were from friends=29.9%, School = 38.4%, Media=27.2% and Church= 13.6%, good attitude toward unsafe abortion (94.0%), and only 8.0% have ever procured abortion. In conclusion, the majority of the respondents had good knowledge of unsafe abortion (95.0%) and good attitude toward unsafe abortion (94.0%), and only 8.0% have ever procured abortion. The researcher therefore recommended that, the State Ministries of Education and Health services and the department of public health, should improve and sustain the existing knowledge and attitude toward unsafe abortion so as to reduce the practice of procuring unsafe abortion among female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi and Benue State at large.