Mostly it's young girls who abort, but both young and old are affected. Causes of unwanted pregnancy are many. They include economic hardship that leads to sex for income, poor parenting, ignorance about sex and RH, early physical maturity and experimentation with sex, promiscuity, unprotected sex, peer pressure to have sex, shift from traditional to modern societal values, inaccessibility of contraceptives, women's lack of control of their sexuality, inadequate family accommodation, boys and men cheating girls into having sex by promising marriage, and lack of respect between a man and woman. Men's denial of responsibility for the pregnancy and fear of family members finding out about the pregnancy are major causes for abortion. They also are self-induced with assistance from friends and other community members.
Most abortionists are unskilled, although some are more qualified than others.
Abortion methods used outside the formal healthcare system include oral administration of traditional medicine or herbs, overdoses of malaria tablets or contraceptive pills, and inserting knitting needles or roots into the vagina. Women who experience spontaneous abortion seek medical attention although they are sometimes unaware that they are aborting. They are treated respectfully by nurses and doctors, although difficulty in determining whether a client is suffering from complications of induced or spontaneous abortion may affect the quality of treatment that is given. Traditional healers also provide treatment for spontaneous abortion. Girls and women who experience complications of induced abortion often delay or do not seek medical treatment.