Key Social Norms Take-aways The study reveals how entrenched social norms around premarital sex, motherhood, and abortion in South-Western Nigeria severely constrain young women’s reproductive autonomy. Abortion stigma—framed by religious, legal, and moral discourses—forces women to weigh social death against health risks when confronting unintended pregnancies. The concept of “forced motherhood” emerges from a complex interplay of stigmatizing attitudes that limit access to safe abortion, leading to failed attempts and lifelong consequences. Ultimately, social norms not only shape women’s choices but actively enforce unwanted outcomes, such as early motherhood, through exclusion, discrimination, and emotional trauma.
Objectives This study aimed to explore young women’s decision-making around abortion, their experiences with failed abortion, and the social and psychological consequences of being forced into motherhood in a context of restrictive abortion laws and stigmatizing social norms in South-Western Nigeria.
Methods Using semi-structured in-depth interviews, the researchers gathered qualitative data from 14 unmarried women who had desired but either failed to obtain or refrained from attempting an abortion during their teenage years. These participants were selected from a larger study sample in Mokuro, a rural town in Osun State. Data were analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to identify key themes and understand their lived experiences through the lenses of stigma and social death.
Results All participants viewed their pregnancies as unplanned and unwanted, driven largely by fear of social stigma and loss of future opportunities. Ten of the women attempted unsafe abortions using home remedies or clandestine services, with all attempts failing. Barriers included financial hardship, fear of legal repercussions, religious beliefs, and misinformation. These failed attempts led to forced motherhood, triggering stigmatization, expulsion from school, job discrimination, and social isolation. Some participants expressed long-term resentment toward their children, viewing them as symbols of lost identity and opportunity.
Conclusions The study concludes that restricted access to abortion—shaped by legal and social norms—forces young women into unwanted motherhood, with profound impacts on their mental health, socioeconomic prospects, and sense of agency. It calls for a holistic approach to reproductive health that includes legal reform, stigma reduction, and support systems to empower young women. Addressing the normative and structural barriers to abortion is essential for protecting their reproductive rights and overall well-being.