Image: Participants at the Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation’s event on “Building Evidence to Address the Menace of Sexual Violence and Unsafe Abortions in Nigeria”
Sexual violence, a devastating infringement on human rights, can have dire consequences for the health and well-being of women and girls, regardless of their age and socio-economic backgrounds. Such health consequences can be acute, chronic and sometimes deadly with even more grim outcomes like unintended/unwanted pregnancy, and abortions/unsafe abortions.
Abortion has long been a contentious issue in Nigeria, historically debated, and subject to ongoing controversy. In settings where abortion is illegal, it persists underground, predominantly unsafe and perilous, significantly increasing maternal mortality rates.
According to recent studies, one in four Nigerian women have experienced some form of sexual abuse. Despite these alarming statistics, many cases go unreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation and lack of trust in the country’s justice system. Inconsistent data collection and resource constraints further hinder understanding, highlighting the need for improved surveillance systems and supportive environments for reliable data to fully understand the extent of sexual violence and unsafe abortions in Nigeria.
In Nigeria, abortion is illegal carrying a heavy jail term of up to 14 years imprisonment, except when it is carried out to save the life of the pregnant woman. Despite the criminalisation of abortion, more than half of all unintended pregnancies in Nigeria are resolved using abortion. In most cases, such abortion practices are unsafe and often require treatment for complications.
Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation commissioned two nationwide research studies in collaboration with the Academy for Health Development (AHEAD) and Centre for Research and Preventive Health Care (CERPHEC) to uncover the linkages between sexual violence and unsafe abortions in Nigeria, as well as evaluate the efficacy of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in addressing sexual violence in 13 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
Some of the drivers of sexual and gender-based violence were similar in all the states evaluated and included: cultural values that emphasise dominance and encourage a culture of silence; patriarchal societies that limit women’s independence; and gender stereotypes that promote gender inequality. The study also revealed that perpetrators of sexual violence were often close relatives or armed gangs, particularly in security-compromised states.
Key findings from the study‘s 2,600 participants, 200 per state, ages 15-49, were:
– 76.1% were survivors of sexual violence;
– 4.2% were already pregnant;
– 12.1% got pregnant due to the sexual abuse;
– 32.8% had an induced abortion;
– 43.2% had a live birth;
– 10% were still pregnant at the time of the study;
– 2.8% had had a stillbirth.
The reasons given for inducing an abortion included the survivor being too young to have a child, unwillingness to have the child, the partner or perpetrator’s decision on the survivor’s behalf, and socio-economic considerations.
Although the government and non-state players have a good level of awareness of the VAPP Act, the study revealed that its implementation is faced with systemic and cultural challenges that affect its domestication and full implementation. Challenges in implementing the law at the state level include financial constraints, societal norms, patriarchal attitudes, and a pervasive shaming culture.
In May 2024, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation convened multi-stakeholders including representatives from Ministries in the states evaluated, implementing partners in the sexual and reproductive health sectors, the Nigerian police, research organisations and representatives of embassies to disseminate findings from the study and offer recommendations to address the issue of sexual violence and unsafe abortions in the country.
Emphasizing the importance of advocating for the domestication of the VAPP Act at the state level, influential figures such as state First Ladies play a crucial role. It is essential to engage communities and religious leaders in discussions about sexual violence and unsafe abortions. Initiatives like Ipas’ creation of sermon notes for Islamic and Christian leaders in various states aim to shift perceptions and foster dialogue on these critical issues.
According to WHO, 55% of unintended pregnancies among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years in lower and middle income countries end in unsafe abortions. Hence, there is an urgent call to empower adolescent girls with comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and support. This is crucial not only for their education and future aspirations but also to address the risks of unsafe abortions among survivors of SGBV. Addressing the root causes of SGBV is emphasized as crucial to reducing its prevalence.
Addressing sexual violence and its linkages to unsafe abortion is vital for reducing maternal mortality. However, based on recommendations from the IPAS study, increasing community engagement, targeting advocacy to influential figures and expanding collaboration with gatekeepers to shift cultural attitudes are required to address this menace.
Emphasizing the importance of advocating for the domestication of the VAPP Act at the state level, influential figures such as state First Ladies play a crucial role. It is essential to engage communities and religious leaders in discussions about sexual violence and unsafe abortions. Initiatives like Ipas’ creation of sermon notes for Islamic and Christian leaders in various states aim to shift perceptions and foster dialogue on these critical issues.
The government must also commit to assisting victims in recovering from trauma and work towards the ultimate elimination of sexual assault through community education and prevention programmes. Increased support and targeted initiatives are crucial for creating a safer environment and addressing the root causes of sexual violence and unsafe abortions in Nigeria.
SOURCE: Nigeria Health Watch (excerpts), by Oluomachukwu Omeje, 5 July 2024 ; PHOTO: by Ipas Nigeria.