Nigerian Researcher Highlights Gaps in Reproductive Rights Knowledge among Female Postgraduate Students

IBADAN — A new study by Nigerian public health expert Mercy Nkechi Egemba is drawing attention to the urgent need for reproductive health education among young women in higher institutions.

Egemba’s research, published in the African Journal of Biomedical Research, examined the “Knowledge and Perceptions of Reproductive Rights among Female Postgraduate Students of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.” The findings show that while awareness of reproductive rights is growing, significant misconceptions and barriers still undermine women’s ability to make informed decisions about their health.

Surveying 480 female postgraduate students across faculties, the study revealed that many participants had only partial understanding of their rights including regarding family planning, access to reproductive health services, and protection against coercion. Misconceptions about legality, cultural taboos, and institutional silence around reproductive health were among the key barriers to knowledge.

“Reproductive rights are fundamental human rights,” Mercy Egemba said during a recent presentation of her findings. “But if educated women at the postgraduate level still lack clarity and confidence in exercising these rights, it tells us that the broader society has much work to do.”

The study underscored that while awareness of reproductive rights among these educated women exists, concrete understanding is low. Cultural, marital, and educational “filters” strongly shape what people believe is acceptable or possible with rights like bodily autonomy, family planning, and legal protection.

Thus, Egemba emphasized that: “There is a need for increased public education, curricular integration, and legal reforms to improve knowledge, shift attitudes, and strengthen enforcement of reproductive rights”.

Experts believe the timing of the research is crucial. Nigeria continues to face high rates of maternal mortality and unintended pregnancies, particularly among young women. Advocates say improving knowledge of reproductive rights could empower women to make safer health choices and reduce preventable risks.

Dr. Tola Ajayi, a reproductive health advocate based in Ibadan, praised Egemba’s contribution. “Her work shines a spotlight on an often-overlooked population — postgraduate students. These are women who will go on to lead in academia, industry, and policy, yet they still face systemic gaps in reproductive health awareness. This is a call for action.”

According to Egemba, “Nigeria’s Millennium Development Goals’ efforts on reproductive rights fell short, as the country made limited progress in improving reproductive health and rights, falling short of key targets. While maternal mortality reduced by roughly 30%,—it remained among the highest globally, far below the MDG goal of a 75% cut”.

Egemba has since commenced talks on collaborations with civil society groups to push for policy changes, including the strengthening of campus health services, and establishment of confidential counseling and referral systems for female students.

Her findings add to a growing body of research emphasizing that Nigeria’s progress on women’s health must go beyond service delivery to include rights-based education and empowerment.