Types of Abortion Committed and Physical Complications as Correlate of Psychological Stress of Abortion among Female University Undergraduates in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the types of abortion committed and physical complications as correlate of psychological stress of abortion among female university undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. It specifically examined if types of abortion committed by female university undergraduates and physical complications experienced could lead to psychological stress. The research design used in this study was an exploratory type. The population was all the female university undergraduates in the various federal and state universities in the six states of South West Nigeria. The sample consisted of 1,200 single and married female university undergraduates selected from six universities using stratified random sampling, simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The research instrument titled “Psychological Stress of Abortion Questionnaire (PSYCHOSA)” was used to collect data from the respondents. The test re-test reliability of the instrument was ensured and a reliability co-efficient of 0.74 was obtained at 0.05 level of significance. The face, content and construct types of validity of the instrument were ascertained by experts in Tests and Measurement, Psychology and Guidance and Counselling. Two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The data collected were analysed using t-test statistics. The result of the analysis showed that types of abortion committed and physical complications of abortion among female university undergraduates had no significant influence on psychological stress of abortion among these students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government should make provisions for counsellors in all the universities. Counsellors in various institutions should devise means of interacting with female University undergraduates to know what they are passing through and be ready to show emphatic understanding anytime. Also, since abortion is allowed to save a woman’s life, student doctors and all medical practitioners should be trained to carry out abortion with a very low risk of complications.