By Ebi Kesiena
A new Afrobarometer survey has revealed that while a majority of Nigerians support the inclusion of sex education in school curricula, there is significantly less support for making contraceptives available to all sexually active individuals, regardless of age or marital status.
The survey also found that public opinion on abortion remains divided.
While many Nigerians acknowledge that pregnancies are sometimes terminated in their communities, a large proportion believe such cases are rare or non-existent.
Additionally, while the majority of Nigerians oppose abortion in cases of unwanted pregnancies or financial difficulties, more than half believe it can be justified when the mother’s life is at risk or if the pregnancy results from rape or incest.
The survey revealed that seven in 10 Nigerians (70%) support the teaching of sex education in schools. It was noted that more educated and economically advantaged individuals, older adults, and urban residents were more likely to endorse this view.
However, only 40% of Nigerians believe contraceptives should be accessible to all sexually active individuals regardless of age, while just 37% support availability irrespective of marital status.
Regarding abortion, about one in 10 Nigerians (10%) reported that women and girls in their communities often terminate pregnancies, while 32% said it happens occasionally. However, fewer than half (45%) stated that pregnancies are rarely or never terminated in their communities. More than seven in 10 citizens believe abortion is never justified in cases of unwanted pregnancies (73%) or financial hardship (71%). However, 59% believe abortion is justified if the mother’s health or life is at risk, and 51% support it in cases of rape or incest.
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that provides reliable data on African citizens’ experiences and perspectives on democracy, governance, and quality of life. Since 1999, it has conducted nine rounds of surveys in up to 42 countries, with Round 10 launched in January 2024.
In Nigeria, the Afrobarometer team, led by NOIPolls, conducted the latest survey between 19 June and 17 July 2024, interviewing a nationally representative sample of 1,600 adult Nigerians. The survey results have a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
These findings highlight the complexities of public opinion on reproductive health issues in Nigeria and provide critical insights for policymakers, educators, and health professionals as they navigate policies on sex education, contraception, and abortion rights.
