title: A survey of attitudes and practices of reproductive health and family planning services among private medical practitioners in four states of the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abortion is widespread in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria, with resulting high rates of morbidity and mortality. It is thought that the private sector provides the majority of abortion services in Nigeria as a result of the restrictive abortion law in the country.  The oil-rich Niger-Delta region accounts for 90% of the country's resource, is economically active and has increased opportunities for sexual networking.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study assays the attitudes of staff at family planning (FP) services and practices of reproductive health and FP  services among private practitioners in four states of Niger-Delta of Nigeria (the states of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women who had unwanted pregnancies were attended by 119 (87.5%) respondents. However, only 33 (24.0%) provided services for termination of pregnancy.  Indeed, just over half (72; 53.4%) counselled women to continue the pregnancy while fewer (35; 25.9%) referred women to other clinics. However, there was no evidence to suggest that doctors followed up on those women counselled to continue their pregnancies. Most private sector service providers  of abortion services in Nigeria (69.7%) are non-specialist doctors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Education of private practitioners in the principles of abortion, post-abortion care and FP is recommended to alleviate abortion-related morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. eguono_2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Lawrence Osuakpor
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Omo-Aghoja
authors.forename: Afolabi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammed
authors.forename: Friday Ebhodaghe
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Okonofua
authors.forename: Okpani Anthony
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Okpani
authors.forename: Oyinkondu Collins
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Koroye
authors.forename: Sylvester
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ojobo
authors.forename: Iyore
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Itabor
authors.forename: Olakunle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Daramola
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires