CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Abortion has been regarded as one of the most public health issues among teenagers. It is a decision by the perpetrators to terminate or disrupts the progress of pregnancy using safe or unsafe methods. There are different definitions to the concept abortion. However, this study shall adopt the definition given by World Health Organization (WHO). As view by to Singh (2010), WHO defined abortion as a process or procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy carried out either by persons lacking the necessary skill or in an environment that does not confirm to minimal medical standard or without the medical standard.
Abortion in clear terms is a deliberate action by pregnant mother to remove the embryo from the womb for the reason of not being ready to care for the bay when given birth to. It could also be for the purpose for a married women intention to control birth rate in the family or a case of survival for the pregnant mother from early pregnancy complication.
Singh (2010) pointed out that they are 21 million abortion cases in the world yearly, annual rate of 16 for every 1000 women with the age bracket 13 to 45 years. According to Bankole (2015), in spite of Nigeria’s highly restrictive abortion law, an estimated 1.25 million induced abortions occurred in 2012. The number doubled from an estimated 610,000 in 1996 because of both population growth and an increase in the rate of abortion.
Abortion in Nigeria is regarded legal when performed to save a woman’s life. However, the cases of abortions among teenagers are common and most are unsafe because the teenagers involve in it would not want to be identified in a crowded hospitals.
Abortion among teenagers is caused by unprepared pregnancies. Most teenage abortion is as a result of unplanned pregnancies. According to Alabi and Oni (2017), in Africa context, the act of precreation is a responsibility placed on married couples. These couples are found to be physically economically, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically matured.
In recent times, girls of ten and thirteen are sexually active. This is a major issue in the teenage pregnancy which often lead to abortion. Onuzlike (2003), revealed that teenagers become sexually active at an early age with corresponding high fertility. This condition is widely referred to as teenage pregnancies. According to Anibal (2010), the reason why abortion is increasing greatly is because once teenagers are pregnant they seek to justify their action that they are not ready and cannot care for baby at that material time. Another reason is that teenagers with sexual urge do not have the ability to exercise control over when and under what condition they will have sexual intercourse and each of these leading to abortion.
In relationship to the above point, Park (2008), explained that exposure to sexual content on television, sexuality in media, pornographic and sex chat rooms by teenager encourage them into having safe sex which could lead to early age pregnancy and possible abortion.
Adolescence from Latin adolescere, meaning 'to grow up is a transitional stage of physical and psychologicaldevelopment that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood (age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with the teenage years, but its physical, psychological or cultural expressions may begin earlier and end later. For example, puberty now typically begins during preadolescence, particularly in females. Physical growth (particularly in males), and cognitive development can extend into the early twenties. Thus age provides only a rough marker of adolescence, and scholars have found it difficult to agree upon a precise definition of adolescence, (Park, 2008).
Statement of the Problem
There is an alarming increase of abortion among teenagers in the society. Teenagers between aged 10 to 20 years are frequently involved in abortion across the earth. Nigeria teenagers are deeply involved. The estimated abortion rate was 33 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–23 in 2012. Although this rate is greater than the 1996 rate (23 per 1,000) estimated in a previous study, the most prudent conclusion may be that the abortion rate has increased only slightly, as the two rates were calculated using different approaches.Nationally, one in seven pregnancies (14%) ended in induced abortion in 2012, (Bankole, 2015),
According to Studnicki, Mackinnon and Fisher (2016), today young people are increasingly tolerant of premarital sex. A study among young people aged 15-24 from various socio-economic backgrounds.
Cases of abortion among female teenagers in Nigeria are becoming a norm for teenagers. However, the few statistics recorded for abortion rate does not capture the cases of abortion among teenagers because most the teenagerssolitic for the help of unregistered patient shores who may not officially report abortion. Therefore, it important to known abortion cases are more than the official cases which by this interpretation score high figure for adortion.
Purpose of the Study
The general purpose of the study covers the prevalence of abortion among teenagers in Ethiope East local government. In addition, the study shall look into the following specific objectives which will guide the study.
- To discover the rate of abortion cases among teenagers in Ethiope East Local Government Area.
- To ascertain the major factors causes of prevalence abortion cases among teenagers in Ethiope East Local Government Area.
- To find out the consequences of abortion among teenagers in Ethiope East Local Government Area.
- To proffer solutions that will curb abortion among teenagers in Ethiope East Local Government Area.
Research Questions
The following research questions shall guide this study.
- What is the rate of abortion cases among teenagers in Ethiope East Local Government Area?
- What are the major factors that cause of prevalence abortion cases among teenagers in Ethiope East Local Government Area?
- What are the consequences of abortion among teenagers in Ethiope East Local Government Area?
Significance of the Study
This study will provide information to support parents, religious bodies and other relevant stakeholders the ways to curb this public health issue that has eaten deep into the sexual life of Nigeria teenagers. This research study will be of great significance to the government, parents and teenagers.
This study will be useful to the government because it will provide them with useful information on how to control the prevalence cases of abortion through good public health policies.
The knowledge gained from the study may help the parents to identify the major new factors that motivate their teenager children involve in premarital sex as well involvement in abortion.
The information provided by this study may help teenagers stand a better chance of acquiring the basic health information that concern abortion armed with the proper techniques involved to avoid teenage pregnancy and abortion.
Scope and Delimitations of the Study
This work examines the prevalence of abortion among teenage girl in Ethiope East Local Government Area. The period for the study covers one year which is from January to December 2018. The study cover students of secondary school in Ethiope East.
Limitation of the Study
This study covers the prevalence of abortion among teen girls in Ethiope East Local Government Area. The research found it difficult to get hundred percent accurate response from the girls be the girls that are directly involving in abortion may not speak justly.
Definition of Terms
Abortion: this is an activity engaged by pregnant women to terminate the pregnancy before birth by taking any medical drugs.
Prevalence: This mean the occurrence of a thing in such a way that is unaccepted in the society by those who engaged in the a particular activity
Pregnancy: Pregnancy is seen as a period at which a woman carries baby in their womb for a period of nine months.
Premarital Sex: Premarital sex is a type of sexual activities among unmarried male and female. These categories are called teenagers or adult who are not legally married.
Teenager: This is a pre-adult age of human live span that is transition to adulthoold. The age bracket for teenagers varies fro, country to another but likely to be between 10 years to 20 years.
