The Magnitude and Severity of Abortion-Related Complications in Jigawa State, Nigeria
This evidence brief presents key findings from a mixed-method study conducted in an MSF-supported referral hospital in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Using WHO’s near-miss methodology, the study assessed the scale and severity of abortion-related complications.
Of the 520 women whose medical records were reviewed, 67% experienced severe morbidity, including 62% with potentially life-threatening complications, 4.4% classified as near-miss, and 0.2% resulting in death. Most complications occurred in the second trimester, and over 80% of women had anaemia. Nearly one in four reported attempting to induce abortion themselves, primarily through traditional or community-based methods.
The findings highlight the urgent need for access to safe abortion and post-abortion care, improved contraceptive access, and legal reform in line with the Maputo Protocol to reduce preventable maternal deaths in fragile settings.