With an unacceptably high maternal mortality ratio of 1500 per 100,000 live births (NHDS 2018), Nigeria’s legislation and response to women’s reproductive health issues stands at a critical stage. Unsafe abortions account for 14% of these maternal deaths and the need for pathways toward ensuring access to safe abortions has become urgent. Luckily, Ogun state has held the pacesetter position of adopting guidelines for legal indications to access safe termination of pregnancy, even as Lagos state hesitated.
These comprehensive guidelines for the safe termination of pregnancy (STOP) were introduced to standardize medical practices, provide clarity within the existing national legal framework by specifying conditions under which abortions are permissible to avoid legal ambiguities and ensure that healthcare providers operate within the law to reduce preventable maternal deaths. They were developed with input from various stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, legal experts, and religious leaders, ensuring broad-based support and acceptance.
We know the guidelines are a bulky document, so Love Matters Naija summarized it for you here in 12 points.
- Termination of pregnancy is allowed when the pregnancy poses a danger to the woman’s life or physical health. Conditions include severe hypertension, cancer, and other critical health issues.
- Special provisions are made for women who are victims of rape or incest, ensuring they have access to safe medical procedures without additional trauma or legal hurdles.
- Emphasis is placed on the need for healthcare providers to approach these cases with empathy and sensitivity, recognizing the emotional and psychological impact on the women involved.
- The guidelines include detailed protocols and training programs for healthcare providers to ensure they are well-equipped to handle these procedures safely and ethically.
- Healthcare facilities are required to maintain thorough documentation and reporting of all termination procedures to ensure transparency and accountability.
- The guidelines emphasize the importance of post-abortion care, including counseling and medical follow-up, to support women’s health and well-being after the termination.
- The guidelines are subject to continuous review and improvement based on feedback from healthcare providers and evolving medical practices, ensuring they remain relevant and effective.
Adopting these guidelines showed that the Ogun state government is committed to ensuring that women in Ogun State have access to safe and legal medical services for the termination of pregnancy, thereby safeguarding their health and rights. Which state of Nigeria do you think will adopt such guidelines next?
References
Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018
Ogun State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications
Lagos State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications
[Penpushing](https://penpushing.com.ng)
[Remo TV](https://remotv.com.ng)
