NATIONAL GUIDELINES ON SAFE TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOR LEGAL INDICATIONS

Guidelines provide clinical instructions for healthcare providers on safely terminating pregnancies in legally permitted situations, such as rape or danger to the mother's life. They target gynaecologists, obstetricians, nurses, midwives, and hospital administrators. This aims to reduce maternal deaths from unsafe abortions.

What Is This Policy?

Clinical guidelines for healthcare providers on the safe management of pregnancy termination in circumstances permitted by Nigerian law, including rape, incest, danger to the mother's life, and fetal abnormality.

Who Does It Target?

Gynaecologists and obstetricians in public and private hospitals Nurses and midwives providing post-abortion care Hospital administrators managing abortion-related protocols Legal practitioners and advocates dealing with reproductive health cases

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Reduce unsafe abortion-related maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria by ensuring that healthcare providers are competent to safely manage pregnancy termination in legally permitted circumstances.

Key Features

Legal Indications: Defines the circumstances under Nigerian law where pregnancy termination is permissible. Clinical Protocols: Provides WHO-aligned clinical protocols for safe termination procedures at different gestational ages. Post-Abortion Care: Includes comprehensive post-abortion care protocols for managing complications. Referral Pathways: Establishes clear referral pathways for cases requiring higher-level care.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active — distributed to tertiary and secondary hospitals Coverage: Hospitals providing reproductive health services Beneficiaries: Women with pregnancies meeting legal indications; healthcare providers Funding: Federal Ministry of Health; WHO; donors

How to Access

Healthcare providers: access through FMOH or state health ministries The guidelines are for clinical use in legally permitted circumstances Women: must present documentation of the legal indication to access services Application method: Access through Federal Ministry of Health.

Important Terms

Nigerian law permits termination in limited circumstances — the guidelines operationalise these provisions Unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria Provider training on the guidelines is critical for their effective implementation

Official Resources

Website: https://www.health.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Health — Reproductive Health Division

Legal Framework

Operates under the National Health Act 2014, the Criminal Law, the Penal Code (Northern states), and relevant state laws on lawful termination of pregnancy. Draws on WHO safe abortion clinical guidelines, CEDAW General Recommendation 24 on women and health, and the Maputo Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa.