AWARENESS OF THE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF UNSAFE ABORTION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN IHIAGWA COMMUNITY, IMO STATE, NIGERIA.

*Nwoke E. A., Nwizu J. O., Ibe S. N. O. and Nwufo R. C.

ABSTRACT

Aims: To ascertain the level of awareness of the physical health implications of unsafe abortion among secondary school adolescents in the study area; to elicit the level of awareness of the psychological health implications of unsafe abortion among secondary school adolescents in the study area; to assess the level of awareness of the social health implications of unsafe abortion among secondary school adolescents in the study area. There is also the null hypothesis which states that awareness of health implications of unsafe abortion among secondary school adolescents does not differ by gender. Study Design: A descriptive survey design was used. Place and Duration of Study: Ihiagwa Community in Imo State, Nigeria, between January to February 2015. Methodology: The sample size was 300 (males 150 and Females 150). A structured, validated and reliable questionnaire (r = 0.78) was used as the instrument for data collection. Results: The result showed that majority of the respondents (70.6%) were within the age range of 14-16 years. In religious affiliation, 114 (38%) were Roman catholics followed by 92 (30.7%) Pentecostals. Grand mean of 177 (59%) respondents were aware of various physical health implications of unsafe abortion while 123 (41%) were not aware. Grand mean of 193 (64.3%) respondents were aware of various psychological health implications while 107 (35.7%) were not aware. Majority, grand mean of 205 (68.3%) respondents were aware of social health implications of unsafe abortion while 95 (31.7%) were not aware. The results in tables 5 and 6 found out if the awareness of health implications of unsafe abortion among secondary school adolescents differ by gender. When exposed to statistical analysis using chi-square, it was discovered that chi-square table value of 5.99 was greater than the calculated chi-square value of 0.54 and the null hypothesis which stated that awareness of the health implications of unsafe abortion does not significantly differ by gender was accepted. Conclusion:The general grand mean of the adolescents unaware of the health implications of unsafe abortion were 108 (36%) which if they were faced with the choice of unsafe abortion, would have gone through it before realizing the dangers involved. This is a source of worry considering the consequences of the level of ignorance. Thus a comprehensive sex education is required among these adolescents before they fall prey to the dangers of unsafe abortion.

Keywords: Awareness, Health Implications, Unsafe abortion, Secondary Schools, Adolescents, Ihiagwa Community, Imo State.