4 - An Explorative study of abortion among the Tarok in Central Nigeria
Corresponding Author(s) : Titilayo Cordelia Orisaremi
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 16 No. 1 (2012): African Sociological Review
Abstract
This paper, part of a larger study, was conceived in response to the high maternal morbidity and mortality rates attributable to unsafe abortion in Nigeria. The study was predicated upon the assumption that socio-cultural practices influence the reproductive health outcome of most women in Nigeria and therefore explored these practices in relation to abortion among the Tarok ethnic group in central Nigeria. It utilized qualitative method that provided for a detailed and descriptive analysis of data from female and male respondents of various sociodemographic groups through thirty in-depth interviews and focus group discussion sessions conducted between April and May, 2008. The study found a high level of Tarok women’s exposure to unintended pregnancy, which is largely rooted in unequal gender relations, traditional gender roles and social taboos. It concludes that intervention strategies aimed at improving maternal health must go beyond the provision of, and access to contraceptives and legalisation of abortion to addressing socio-cultural practices that have overwhelming influence on the life and death of women in Nigeria.
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- Adetoro, O.O., Babarinsa, A.B., Sotiloye, O.S. 1991. Socio-cultural factors in adolescent eptic illicit abortion in Ilorin, Nigeria. African Journal of Medical Science, Vol. 20(2):149--153.
- Alubo, O. 2000. The challenges of adolescent sexuality and reproductive health in Nigeria. A Research Paper No. 166 Takemi Program in International Health. Boston: Harvard School of Public Health.
- Dixon-Mueller, R. 1995. The sexuality connection in reproductive health. In: S. Zeidenstein, and K. Moore (eds.) Learning about Sexuality: a Practical Beginning. New York: The Population Council. Pp. 137--157.
- Doyal, L. 1995. What Makes Women Sick: Gender and the Political Economy of Health. London: Macmillan.
- Ekanade, S. 1986. The land and peoples. In: T. Falola and A. Adediran (Eds.) A New History of Nigeria for Colleges Book One (Peoples, States and Culture Before 1800). Ikeja: John West Publications Ltd. Pp. 23--44.
- Fazing, V.N. 1991. Taroh marriage customs and the Christian message. Unpublished BA Project. St Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos.
- Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2006. Legal Notice on Publication of the Details of the Breakdown of the National and State Provisional Totals 2006 Census. Official Gazette. Vol. 94(24):B176--B198.
- Galam L. 1999. Courtship and marriage. In: A.L. Lannap (ed.) The Tarok Woman. Jos: University Press Limited. Pp.13--25.
- Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria. 2006. Maternal health in Nigeria. Nigerian Health Review. Pp. 103--122.
- Henshaw, S.K., Singh, S., Oye-Adeniran, B.A., Adewale, I.F., Iwere, N. and Cuca, Y.P. 1998. The incidence of induced abortion in Nigeria. International Family Planning Perspectives. Vol. 24(4):156--164.
- Izubgara, C.O. and Ezeh, A.C. 2010. Women and high fertility in Islamic Northern Nigeria. Studies in family Planning Vol. 41(3):193--204.
- Lee, E., Clements, S., Ingham, R. and Stone, N. 2004. A Matter of Choice? Explaining national variation in teenage abortion and motherhood. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- Okonofua, F.E. 2007. The role of health in national development: the status of maternal and child health in Nigeria. In: Nigeria National Health Conference 2006: Details of Proceedings. Abuja: Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria. Pp. 13-31.
- Orisaremi, T.C., Alubo, O. 2012. Gender and the reproductive health of Tarok women in central Nigeria, Afr J Reprod Health Vol. 16(1):83--96.
- Raufu, A. 2002. Unsafe abortions cause 20 000 deaths a year in Nigeria. http://wwwbmjcom/content/325/7371/988.5.full. Accessed 10 December 2011.
- Ravindran, T. K. and Balasubramanian, P. 2004. ‘Yes’ to abortion but ‘no’ to sexual rights: the paradoxical reality of married women in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Reproductive Health Matters Vol. 12(23):88–99.
- Sai, F. 2004. The role of government in advancing reproductive health and rights. The National Reproductive Health Consultative Summit, Abuja, 17 February Shagaya, J.N. 2005. Taroh History. United Nations Population Fund. 1995. International Conference on Population and Development.http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/populatin/icpd.htm. Accessed July 7 2012. United Nations Population Fund. 2001. Distance Learning Courses on Population Issues Course 6: Reducing Maternal Deaths: Selecting Priorities, Tracking Progress. New York: United Nations Population Fund.
- United Nations Population Fund. 2007. UNFPA Guidance on Unsafe Abortion New York: United Nations Population Fund.
- Wall, L.L. 1998. Dead mothers and injured wives: the social context of maternal morbidity and mortality among the Hausa of Northern Nigeria. Studies in Family Planning Vol. 29(4):341--359. World Health Organization. 2012 https://apps.who.int/aboutwho/en/definition.html Accessed 20 May 2012
- Yarnap, G.R. 1985. The missionary factor in Tarok land 1907--1960: A socio-political and historical analysis. A BA Research Project. Department of History, University of Jos, Jos.
References
Adetoro, O.O., Babarinsa, A.B., Sotiloye, O.S. 1991. Socio-cultural factors in adolescent eptic illicit abortion in Ilorin, Nigeria. African Journal of Medical Science, Vol. 20(2):149--153.
Alubo, O. 2000. The challenges of adolescent sexuality and reproductive health in Nigeria. A Research Paper No. 166 Takemi Program in International Health. Boston: Harvard School of Public Health.
Dixon-Mueller, R. 1995. The sexuality connection in reproductive health. In: S. Zeidenstein, and K. Moore (eds.) Learning about Sexuality: a Practical Beginning. New York: The Population Council. Pp. 137--157.
Doyal, L. 1995. What Makes Women Sick: Gender and the Political Economy of Health. London: Macmillan.
Ekanade, S. 1986. The land and peoples. In: T. Falola and A. Adediran (Eds.) A New History of Nigeria for Colleges Book One (Peoples, States and Culture Before 1800). Ikeja: John West Publications Ltd. Pp. 23--44.
Fazing, V.N. 1991. Taroh marriage customs and the Christian message. Unpublished BA Project. St Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2006. Legal Notice on Publication of the Details of the Breakdown of the National and State Provisional Totals 2006 Census. Official Gazette. Vol. 94(24):B176--B198.
Galam L. 1999. Courtship and marriage. In: A.L. Lannap (ed.) The Tarok Woman. Jos: University Press Limited. Pp.13--25.
Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria. 2006. Maternal health in Nigeria. Nigerian Health Review. Pp. 103--122.
Henshaw, S.K., Singh, S., Oye-Adeniran, B.A., Adewale, I.F., Iwere, N. and Cuca, Y.P. 1998. The incidence of induced abortion in Nigeria. International Family Planning Perspectives. Vol. 24(4):156--164.
Izubgara, C.O. and Ezeh, A.C. 2010. Women and high fertility in Islamic Northern Nigeria. Studies in family Planning Vol. 41(3):193--204.
Lee, E., Clements, S., Ingham, R. and Stone, N. 2004. A Matter of Choice? Explaining national variation in teenage abortion and motherhood. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Okonofua, F.E. 2007. The role of health in national development: the status of maternal and child health in Nigeria. In: Nigeria National Health Conference 2006: Details of Proceedings. Abuja: Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria. Pp. 13-31.
Orisaremi, T.C., Alubo, O. 2012. Gender and the reproductive health of Tarok women in central Nigeria, Afr J Reprod Health Vol. 16(1):83--96.
Raufu, A. 2002. Unsafe abortions cause 20 000 deaths a year in Nigeria. http://wwwbmjcom/content/325/7371/988.5.full. Accessed 10 December 2011.
Ravindran, T. K. and Balasubramanian, P. 2004. ‘Yes’ to abortion but ‘no’ to sexual rights: the paradoxical reality of married women in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Reproductive Health Matters Vol. 12(23):88–99.
Sai, F. 2004. The role of government in advancing reproductive health and rights. The National Reproductive Health Consultative Summit, Abuja, 17 February Shagaya, J.N. 2005. Taroh History. United Nations Population Fund. 1995. International Conference on Population and Development.http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/populatin/icpd.htm. Accessed July 7 2012. United Nations Population Fund. 2001. Distance Learning Courses on Population Issues Course 6: Reducing Maternal Deaths: Selecting Priorities, Tracking Progress. New York: United Nations Population Fund.
United Nations Population Fund. 2007. UNFPA Guidance on Unsafe Abortion New York: United Nations Population Fund.
Wall, L.L. 1998. Dead mothers and injured wives: the social context of maternal morbidity and mortality among the Hausa of Northern Nigeria. Studies in Family Planning Vol. 29(4):341--359. World Health Organization. 2012 https://apps.who.int/aboutwho/en/definition.html Accessed 20 May 2012
Yarnap, G.R. 1985. The missionary factor in Tarok land 1907--1960: A socio-political and historical analysis. A BA Research Project. Department of History, University of Jos, Jos.