Advancing multidisciplinary research on abortion and unintended pregnancy in Nigeria

Abstract

Unintended pregnancy and abortion remain central yet persistently under-examined dimensions of sexual and reproductive health in Nigeria, shaped by intersecting socio-economic inequalities, restrictive legal and policy environments, health system constraints, and deeply rooted sociocultural norms1-3 Existing national and sub-national evidence demonstrates that limited access to contraception, uneven sexuality education, and inequities in service delivery continue to expose women and girls to unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion, with disproportionate consequences for adolescents, young women, and those in socioeconomically marginalised settings.4,5 However, beyond estimates of incidence and method use, critical gaps remain in understanding the social processes, decision-making pathways, institutional responses, and lived experiences that shape abortion trajectories across diverse Nigerian contexts. As Nigeria continues to contend with high levels of unintended pregnancy and the public health burden of unsafe abortion, there is an urgent need for evidence that interrogates not only what happens, but how and why reproductive outcomes are produced within specific social, cultural, and health-system environments.