The perception of students on abortion: A survey of senior high schools in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to find out the perceptions of the students in Senior High schools in the Sunyani Municipality in Ghana on abortion. The study employed the descriptive survey research design. With the simple random sampling procedure, 364 students were selected from a total of 6,824 to participate in the study. The study found out that the students perceived abortion to be morally unacceptable. A significant majority of the students disagreed with arguments that are in favour of abortion. The majority of the students can be described as anti-abortionists. What influenced their perceptions and how they will react, when they find themselves in an unwanted pregnancy situation, are not known. The study also found out that there was no significant difference between the perceptions of male and female students on abortion. In relation to the findings, the study recommended that issues on abortion, and others related to human sexuality, should be taught in Senior High Schools. This will put the students in a better position to make right ethical decisions on abortion.