title: Perceptions of policymakers in Nigeria toward unsafe abortion and maternal mortality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Nigeria, abortion is permitted only to save the life of a woman. Unsafe abortion is common and is a major cause of maternal mortality, yet policymakers have done little to address the problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews were conducted in 2008 with 49 Nigerian politicians and officials to assess their awareness of unsafe abortion and its role in maternal mortality, and to determine their perceptions of the policies and actions needed to address these problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants had poor knowledge of Nigeria's abortion law and the number of abortions and abortion-related deaths, though many knew of women who had died or nearly died from unsafe abortion. Policymakers were guided by moral and religious considerations rather than by evidence-based approaches. About one-third of informants felt that abortion should not be legal under any circumstances, one-fifth supported liberalization on medical grounds and a similar proportion believed that abortion should be legal in cases of rape and incest. Strategies recommended by respondents to reduce maternal mortality included facilitating access to contraceptives, providing sexuality education, improving the health care system, empowering women and providing free pregnancy care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intense public health education and advocacy targeting policymakers is needed to increase political will for reducing abortion-related maternal deaths in Nigeria. Presenting statistics on unsafe abortion together with compelling personal stories will likely resonate with policymakers and contribute to an informed public debate on abortion law reform.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health and Action Research Centre, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. feokonofua@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Friday E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Okonofua
authors.forename: Afolabi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammed
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nzeribe
authors.forename: Buba
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saidu
authors.forename: Tajudeen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abass
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adeboye
authors.forename: Temi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adegun
authors.forename: Chike
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okolocha
mesh_terms: D000024:Abortion, Illegal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D011247:Pregnancy; D016387:Women's Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*