D And C Abortion In Nigeria

Abortion in nigeria is governed by two laws that differ depending on geographical location.

D and c abortion in nigeria.

Abortion is a controversial topic in nigeria. Legalization of abortion in nigeria. The procedure may be done over a two day period. Unsafe abortions can endanger womens reproductive health and lead to serious often life threatening.

Dilation and evacuation d e is an abortion procedure that s used in the second trimester usually after the 14th week of pregnancy. Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the. In nigeria abortion is legal only when performed to save a woman s life. Because abortion is legal only to save a womans life most procedures are clandestine and many are carried out in unsafe circumstances.

Each year in nigeria hundreds of thousands of women become pregnant without wanting to and many women with unwanted pregnancies decide to end them by abortion. D and c is used clandestinely to carry out abortions illegally in nigeria. Unsafe abortion is a major contributor to the country s high levels of maternal death ill health and disability. Doctors perform dilation and curettage to diagnose and treat certain uterine conditions such as heavy bleeding or to clear the uterine lining after a miscarriage or abortion.

Northern nigeria is governed by the penal code and southern nigeria is governed by the criminal code. The only legal way to have an abortion in nigeria is if having the child is going to put the mother s life in danger. Popularly known as d and c it means. Under nigerian law performing an abortion is a criminal offense unless the pregnancy threatens the woman s life and penalties for the offense are severe.

As a result of the abortion laws currently in place in the country nigeria is said to be one of the most restrictive countries when it comes to abortion. The northern region is majority muslim and is governed by the penal code while the southern region is majority christian and governed by the criminal code. According to the criminal code which is used in southern nigeria the abortion laws are explicitly in the sections 228 229 and 230. Dilation and curettage a brief surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and a special instrument is used to scrape the uterine lining.

Still abortions are common and most are unsafe because they are done clandestinely by unskilled providers or both. In this article we examine the legal status of abortion as well as the causes of corruption in nigeria.