KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF CRIMINAL ABORTION AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN AKWA IBOM STATE

The study investigated the influence of knowledge and attitude of criminal abortion among female undergraduate students in tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom State. The study utilized the ex-post factor research design. It is a descriptive research design in which relevant data are collected by the use of questionnaire to elicit responses from respondents. The target population of the study comprised all 4200 level 200 and 300 education students in the tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom States. A sample size of three hundred (300) students was selected for the study using purposive sampling technique. The researcher-developed instrument “Knowledge and Attitude of Criminal Abortion among Female Undergraduate Students in Tertiary institutions Questionnaire” (KACAFUSTIQ) was used to collect data for this study. Face validity was employed in this study. The reliability of the instrument will be established by administering the instrument ‘‘Knowledge and Attitude of Criminal Abortion among Female Undergraduate Students in Tertiary institutions Questionnaire” (KACAFUSTIQ)’’ on 30 students who were not part of the main study. The scores obtained from this pilot group were subjected to a test of internal consistency using the Cronbach’s alpha reliability analysis and the overall reliability of study stood at 0.87 which was deem adequate for the study. Data generated from the instrument was analyzed using linear regression analysis. The result obtained from the data analysis indicated that there is a significant influence of knowledge and attitude of criminal abortion among female undergraduate students in tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom State. The study recommended that proper knowledge on the consequences associated with criminal abortion should be transfer to the students as this will help to prevent them from involvement in criminal abortion. There is also a need for early sex education from parents as this can influence abortion perception and practice in later years.