Several other participants said that although girls might learn about methods of abortion 

by listening, they would not actually ask older women about such methods. 

You do not necessarily go to them [older women] asking. They usually discuss such 

things among themselves and some of us listen. [Eve] 

Nor, as another participant pointed out, would a girl ask an herbalist or a pharmacist 

directly about methods of abortion unless she actually wanted to buy something, as Diana 

explained. 

In fact, we hear about these things from friends rather than going to ask from an 

herbalist or drug sellers. You only go to the herbalists or drug sellers if you want to 

cause an abortion. But you don't go there to know about them for knowing's sake. 

[Yolanda]  

6.1.1  Early Abortions are Better than Later Abortions: Effects on Fertility 

In examining the decisionmaking processes in the previous chapter, specifically the 

urgency that was sometimes expressed about going ahead with an abortion, it appears that most 

girls and their boyfriends were aware that an early abortion was generally safer than a late one. 

One participant put it like this: 

An abortion is okay when the pregnancy is just a month old. But after three months it can 

be dangerous to the mother's health. Also, if it is done in the afternoon it is more painful. 

It is better to abort in the morning. [Bernadette] 

Some girls had a preferred method of abortion. Other girls said that traditional methods 

were dangerous or not effective. One participant who finished JSS 3 said that she learned the 

following in her hometown school: 

We were told that you could die if you had an abortion. We were told you could have it 

done at the hospital. We also learned that some people used traditional medicine, which 

was not safe. [Charity] 

At least seven girls used herbal remedies, five successfully, to cause an abortion. Some 

explained their preference for the herbal methods as follows: 

I think I prefer them [herbs] to going to hospital where you will be made to open your 

legs for equipment to be pushed into your womb. [Theresa] 

The decisionmaking process illustrates the widespread belief that too many abortions can 

cause infertility.  Girls also believe that abortions can cause sickness or death.  One participant 

reported the following: 

50