Researchers Valentine O. Otoide, Frank Oronsaye and Friday E. Okonofua found that sexually active Nigerian youths are generally misinformed about the risks associated with modern methods of contraception, especially the possibility of infertility. As a result, many teenagers reject contraceptive use and rely on induced abortion instead. Many participants in focus groups conducted by the authors in a major Nigerian city perceive the adverse effects of modern contraception on fertility to be continuous and prolonged, while they view abortion as an immediate solution to an unplanned pregnancy-and, therefore, one that would have a limited negative impact on future fertility. Induced abortion in Nigeria is the largest contributor to maternal mortality, however, and accounts for 20,000 of the 50,000 maternal deaths that occur each year.
Abortion is illegal in Nigeria unless a woman's life is threatened by the pregnancy.
Most abortions are of poor quality and unsafe. With Nigerians marrying later and increasingly having premarital sex, this study concludes that young people need education about contraceptives and their side effects in relation to unsafe abortion in order to prevent a dramatic rise in the prevalence of unsafe abortion. This finding shows that Bangladeshi women are committed to continuing family planning efforts, contrary to the initial hypothesis of the researchers. This new strategy for delivering family planning services comes as a result of estimated growth in the number of couples of reproductive age from 27 million in 1995 to 40 million in 2005-a number that fieldworkers will be unable to handle effectively. In addition, the findings indicate that the move to fixed-site facilities and clinics will provide a broader range of reproductive health services and better serve women's reproductive needs, as well as improve the financial sustainability of the program.