The Legalization of Abortion and Its Influence on Youth Sexual Behavior and the Catholic Church: A Case Study of Adamawa State
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
276-309
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/kijst.v3i1.9401
Viewed: 103 times
Downloaded: 105 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:Isaac John Umaru1, Ingwu Joseph Akem2, Solomon O. Asare3, Tyem Lawal Danjuma4, Genevieve A. Yeboah5, Julius Ishaya Salman6, Hauwa A. Umaru7, Maryam Usman Ahmed8
Copyright :Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Although debates on abortion reform have intensified in Nigeria, limited attention has been paid to how partial legalization shapes youth perspectives and sexual and reproductive behaviors within specific sociocultural and religious contexts. This study examines how the limited legalization of abortion influences youth attitudes and behaviors in Adamawa State, with particular attention to demographic, cultural, and institutional factors, as well as the Catholic Church’s response to these changes. A qualitative approach was employed through interviews with health workers, clergy, and youths aged 18–25 from urban and rural areas of Adamawa State. Supplementary data were obtained from community forums, church outreach programs, and health service records, and the data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns in attitudes, behaviors, and institutional responses. The findings indicate a marked urban–rural divide, with urban youths reporting higher sexual activity, greater contraceptive use, and stronger support for reproductive autonomy. The study also found that the Catholic Church’s moral campaigns have had limited influence, particularly among urban youths who perceive religious teachings as less relevant to contemporary realities. In contrast, health workers were viewed as more trusted sources of guidance, while peers and media played a substantial role in shaping youth behavior. The study concludes that the evolving legal and cultural landscape in Adamawa State reflects a broader generational shift toward autonomy and informed decision-making among youths. These findings contribute to understanding the changing relationship between legal reform, religious influence, and youth reproductive behavior, and suggest that more balanced strategies integrating moral guidance, comprehensive education, and supportive policies are needed to promote healthy youth development in a changing society.
Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Citation Metrics & Similar Scopus Articles
-
Li X. (2027)Characterization of shale gas adsorption behavior based on the gravimetric methodUnconventional Resources, 17
-
Mirzahosseini M. (2027)A Review of Constitutive Modeling of Unsaturated SoilsIranian Journal of Geophysics, 20(3), 81-128
-
Su H. (2027)Effect of Pseudomonas sp. on the performance of Al-Zn-In-Cd sacrificial anodes in a marine tidal environmentJournal of Materials Science and Technology, 282, 50-60
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.