Awareness on abortion legality among undergraduate students in Nigerian Universities

• Published in: Cogent social sciences Vol. 6; no. 1
• Main Authors: Joseph Oyeyipo, Eyitayo, Bolanle Adeyemo, Adeyinka, Arisukwu, Ogadimma, Rasak, Bamidele, Onyekachi Igbolekwu, Chisaa, Josephine Oyeyipo, Kemisola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Cogent 01-01-2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Abortion; abortion in Nigeria; College students; Colleges & universities; criminal code; Curricula; legal issues relating to abortion; Legality; penal code; Questionnaires; self-interest; Undergraduate students; Nigeria
• ISSN: 2331-1886; 2331-1886
• DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2020.1747334

The aim of this work is to measure and determine the awareness on abortion and its legality amongst youths in Nigerian Universities. The undergraduate students of some selected universities in Nigeria constituted the study population. These were male and female undergraduate students across the faculties and departments of the schools. The study made use of questionnaire as the source of data collection. A total of 587 questionnaires were administered and analysed. Findings from this study supported literature on the knowledge of undergraduates on abortion. It further revealed that awareness of legal provisions guiding abortion in Nigeria was low, as only 28.3% of the respondents were aware of the criminal and penal code laws relating to abortion. It is recommended that the schools should include education of legal stance on abortion in the curriculum. Also, the undergraduate students should be educated on mortality resulting from abortion to boost the development rate of the country.