Why Nigerian Adolescents Seek Abortion Rather than Contraception: Evidence from Focus-Group Discussions

and traditional methods of contraception has always been shown to be poor among Nigerian adolescents. The 1990 Demographic and Health Survey found that only 11% of sexually active women aged 15–19 ever used any modern contraceptive method. Such rates of contraceptive use are much lower than levels seen in similar age-groups in many Sub-Saharan African countries, or than levels in industrialized countries.5 The promotion of effective contraceptive use among Nigerian adolescents is a major challenge if their reproductive health is to be improved. Given that Nigerian youths are now marrying later, are increasingly interested in acquiring a formal education and are increasingly having premarital sex,6 it is clear that allowing the existing gap between contraceptive need and contraceptive utilization to be left unfilled will result in a dramatic rise in the prevalence of unsafe abortions. This will further compound overall levels of maternal mortality in Nigeria. Other than identifying at-risk groups that are often unaware of contraception, an effective strategy for increasing the utilization of contraception must also include an understanding of patterns of contraceptive utilization and of societal views Valentine O. Otoide is a senior registrar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, and is an associate of the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, Benin City. Frank Oronosaye is a program officer with the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, Benin City. Friday E. Okonofua is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, and is executive director of the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, Benin City. The authors would like to thank Abiodun Osawaru and James Falaiye, both of the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, who helped to type and edit the draft of this article. Why Nigerian Adolescents Seek Abortion Rather than Contraception: Evidence from Focus-Group Discussions