Unsafe Abortion on the increase in Africa, a new WHO Report reveals.

Unsafe abortion as a significant contributor to the persistently high maternal mortality rates in Kenya and other sub-Saharan Africa in general, has been highlighted in several earlier posts. Sadly, a WHO report in conjunction with the Guttmacher Institute published today in the Lancet (on 19^th January, 2012), shows that rather than abating, unsafe abortion rates are still rising, this being particularly the case in sub-regions where access to safe abortion is restricted. While worldwide, 49% of all abortions were unsafe in 2008, in Africa, nearly all abortions (97%) were unsafe. The report confirms that restrictive abortion laws do not translate to lower abortion rates, and that unsafe abortion can be effectively minimized by ensuring women have easy access to contraceptive services, backed up by a positive legal framework that facilitates safe abortion. These are crucial steps toward achieving the Millennium Development Goal 5 in countries such as Kenya.

 

Read more on unsafe abortion…

•  The Status of Maternal Health and Unsafe Abortion in Kenya
• Women have the right to safe abortion services within the law
• Focus on providing safe abortion services, not post-abortion care.
• Champions are Urgently Needed for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa
• How Kenya’s New Constitution is likely to impact on access to safe abortion services
• A commentary on Unsafe Abortion in Africa