“I choose to do abortion because I wasn’t ready to take care of a child single-handedly”: Identity constructions in Nigerian women’s abortion narratives

Helen U. Ugah, Omolayo O. Jegede

Abstract

While studies on abortion in Nigeria have argued about the criminality of abortion and the need for sustainable family planning method, little is known about the personal identity Nigerian women construct in their abortion narratives. This study examines varying identities Nigerian women construct for themselves when they narrate their abortion experience. It explores the overlapping social, cultural and religious perceptions about abortion embedded in the narratives. The data comprise 40 semi-structured interviews with women who had procured abortion in Nigeria. Their responses were analysed using the analytical tools of Baxter’s (2003) Feminist Post-Structural Discourse Analysis. Findings reveal identities such as moral transgressor, victimhood, responsible motherhood, proactive and certain, and shame in the narratives. Also, despite grappling with abortion stigma, Nigerian women own their abortion narratives and defend their choice. The study concludes that abortion is common place and essential to women’s freedom and functionality. (Afr J Reprod Health 2024; 28 [3s]: 110-120)

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