Perceived Impacts of Abortion and Associated Risks in the Reduction of Maternal Mortality Rates among Women of Reproductive Age at Lth, Ogbomoso

Background: Abortion is the ending of pregnancy by removing a fetus or embryo before it can survive outside the uterus. An abortion that occurs spontaneously is also known as a miscarriage. An abortion may be caused purposely and is then called an induced abortion, or less frequently, “induced miscarriage”. Grimes, and Stuart, (2010). Although induced abortion is medically safe when done in accordance with recommended guidelines, many women undergo unsafe procedures that put their well-being at risk. Thus understanding the perceived impacts of abortion and its associated risks on reduction of maternal mortality rates is critical for countries like Nigeria with increase maternal mortality rate. Methodology: This study was undertaken to determine the impacts of abortion and its associated risks in the reduction of maternal mortality rates among women of reproductive age attending LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study was used to generate data among reproductive age women. Simple random sampling technique was used. Quantitative data were collected with the use of a structured, pre-tested and self-structured questionnaire. A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant. Results: Of all the 200 respondents who participated in the research study, majority of the respondents shows the good knowledge of abortion. 76.0% of them know the meaning of abortion while 24.0% did not. Significant number of the respondents (93.0%) believes that abortion can be procured for therapeutic and elective reasons while 7.0% disagrees. 86.0% affirmed that most abortion performed by unskilled providers is unsafe and 14.0% says contrary. The p value = 0.346 from the calculation is greater than 0.05. Hence, the null hypothesis is accepted meaning there is no significant association between the respondent’s knowledge and occurrence of abortion. There is also no significant difference between the age of respondents and the incidence of abortion when the p value is 0.469. Conclusion: This study revealed that the majority of the reproductive age women have good knowledge of abortion. Because of the issue with legalization of abortion in Nigeria, many still adopt clandestine means to procure abortion and this had led to a marginal increase in maternal mortality indices in the country. However, effort should be made by the appropriate authority to stem the incessant procurement of unsafe abortion