Safe and accessible: strategizing the future

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Safe and accessible: strategizing the future"

Transcription

1 Safe and accessible: strategizing the future HEIDI BART JOHNSTON DEATH from unsafe abortion is the easiest and least expensive to prevent of the five leading causes of maternal mortality. Yet globally an estimated 67,000 women each year die as a result of complications of unsafe abortion. Tens of thousands more suffer serious injuries, including infection, haemorrhage, cervical laceration and uterine perforation (World Health Organization 2003). Unsafe abortion and related deaths and morbidity occur despite international agreements stating that where abortion is legal, it should be safe and accessible, and legislation in almost every country globally permitting abortion for some indication. This paper reviews political, legal and medical aspects of the abortion issue, and provides programmatic examples and recommendations for preventing the unnecessary and tragic loss of lives and health as a result of unsafe abortion. It is critical for governments worldwide to acknowledge and fulfil obligations to reduce abortion related morbidity and mortality, particularly in the face of conservative movements working to reverse recent achievements in reproductive health policy and abortion-related care. Early induced abortion is simple and one of the safest medical procedures when performed by trained health care providers with proper equipment, correct technique, and applying universal precautions for infection control (WHO 2003). Where safe abortion services are accessible, the risk of death from unsafe abortion is less than one per 100,000 (1 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

2 procedures (Alan Guttmacher Institute 1999). Nonetheless, an estimated 19 million unsafe abortions occur globally, annually the vast majority in developing countries. According to recent estimates, the highest rate of unsafe abortion is in Latin America, where an estimated 3.7 million take place annually, averaging 26 per 1000 women of reproductive age. In Africa, an estimated 4.2 million unsafe abortions are performed annually, averaging 22 per 1000 women. With the largest population of any region, Asia has the highest absolute number of unsafe abortions about 10.5 million each year although the estimated rate of unsafe abortion is the lowest in the developing world, at 11 per 1000 women. In Western Europe and North America the number of unsafe abortion is negligible (Ahman and Shah 2002). Governments that are party to the declarations of the International Conference on Population and Development (United Nations 1994), the five-year review of the International Conference on Population and Development (United Nations 1999), the Fourth World Conference on Women (United Nations 1995) and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (United Nations 1979) have agreed that all individuals have the right to determine when and whether to have children, to abolish policies and practices that discriminate against women solely on the basis of their sex, and to make abortion safe and accessible in circumstances in which it is not against the law. The 1999 ICPD+5 Programme Review Paragraph 63.iii underscores the obligation of governments to make safe abortion services available: In circumstances where abortion is not against the law, health systems should train and equip health-service providers and should take other measures to ensure that such abortion is safe and accessible. Furthermore, the United Nations Millennium Development Goal calling for reductions in maternal mortality by 75% (2 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

3 between 1990 and 2015 is unlikely to be met without adoption of strategies for reducing maternal deaths from abortion complications. In addition to international conventions and agreements between governments, international professional organizations recognize their roles in decreasing abortion-related morbidity and mortality. The International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO) states that women have the right to medical or surgical abortion, and the health care service is obliged to provide that service as safely as possible (International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 1999). The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) upholds that a midwife be prepared to appropriately treat, refer, and counsel women who have had induced or spontaneous abortions (International Confederation of Midwives 1996). Progress toward international commitments to reduce maternal death and disability has been hampered by policies and funding restrictions of the United States Bush administration. The Mexico City policy, or Global Gag Rule reinstated by Bush as one of his first acts in office, prohibits any organization receiving population funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development from using those or other, private funds, to provide abortions, inform their patients about abortion, or advocate for change in their nations abortion laws. The withholding of U.S. funds for international organizations including UNFPA and Marie Stopes, International stigmatizes efforts to address morbidity and mortality related to unsafe abortion. 1 Such attempts to reverse recent gains in reproductive health policy should be seen as a call to action for continued progress toward the internationally agreed upon goals of reducing deaths and injury from unsafe abortion. Strategies to reduce death and disability from unsafe abortion include amending and implementing abortion and related (3 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

4 reproductive health policy, preparing health systems to meet the demand for abortion care services, and anticipating and providing care that meets the needs of special populations. Accessible safe abortion care has the advantages of saving women s lives, preserving women s health, and reducing the sometimes enormous health system expenditures for the treatment of women suffering complications from unsafe abortion (Figa-Talamanca, Sinnathuray et al. 1986, Johnson, Benson et al. 1993, WHO 2003). Policy-related strategies to provide abortion services to the full extent of the law are crucial. Abortion is legal for some indication in virtually all countries globally. Over 60% of countries permit abortion to preserve the physical and mental health of the woman, nearly 40% of countries permit abortion in cases of rape or incest or foetal impairment, more than 30% of countries permit abortion on economic or social grounds, and at least 25% of all countries allow abortion on request (UN Population Division 1999). Thus virtually all countries should have accessible and safe services in place to provide abortion as permitted by law (WHO 2003). Despite the widespread legality of abortion, in many countries safe services for legal indications are not accessible. In Brazil and Mexico, for example, abortion is a woman s right when the pregnancy is the result of rape, but abortion services for this indication have been unavailable. To address this policypractice gap, governments in both countries have worked with health care providers and women s health and rights organizations to train and equip providers to offer comprehensive health services, including abortion, for rape survivors (Billings, Moreno et al. 2002, Faundes, Leocadio et al. 2002). The policy strategy of training reproductive health care providers to be conversant with national laws and regulations as well as with technical procedures used to terminate pregnancies is critical to efforts to making abortion safe and (4 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

5 accessible to the full extent of the law. As an example, in Vietnam a partnership of health care providers, ministry of health officials, and a women s health organization has developed national abortion standards and guidelines, protocol and curricula, and established two regional abortion training sites. The partnership continues to work together to implement the standards and guidelines to improve the quality and accessibility of abortion care at all levels of the health care system (Ipas and IHCAR 2002). Furthermore, many women are not aware of their right to legal abortion in certain circumstances or of the availability of safe, legal services. Essential policy-related advocacy includes effectively sharing information about legal indications for abortion needs with women of reproductive age. Health system strategies can be drawn upon where abortion services are legally available but other barriers prevent women from accessing safe legal services. Common barriers include the lack of an abortion care service delivery model in place in the health care system, geographic distance to abortion care services, costs associated with abortion care, unnecessary administrative requirements, and provider or facility refusal to provide abortion-related services. Abortion care service delivery includes multiple essential elements identified in the Postabortion Care (PAC) model for treatment of complications of unsafe abortion, and Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) model for elective abortion care. While the PAC model has been developed and adapted for over a decade, the CAC model is still being developed and tested. The essential elements of the PAC model for treating complications of unsafe abortion, include community and service provider partnerships, abortion and reproductive health counselling, treatment for complications of unsafe abortion, family planning and contraceptive services, and reproductive and other health services (Corbett and Turner 2003). (5 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

6 The essential elements included in the CAC model are preabortion counselling and physical assessment, including confirming and assessing the duration of the pregnancy; contraceptive counselling and referral; uterine evacuation, including appropriate infection prevention and pain management; monitoring and management of abortion-related complications; and recovery and follow-up care (McInerney, Baird et al. 2001, Baird and Flinn 2002, Ipas 2003). Multiple assessments of the PAC service delivery model have shown that implementing postabortion care in a systematic way can increase postabortion contraceptive acceptance and can reduce costs to health care systems when vacuum aspiration is used and services are reorganized to ambulatory care settings (Johnson, Benson et al. 1993, Benson, Huapaya et al. 1998, Nawar, Huntington et al. 1999). Systematically linking contraceptive counselling and service delivery with abortion care has been found vital to ensuring that patients who desire to prevent or delay subsequent pregnancies leave the service delivery site with a contraceptive method, or information about how to obtain the method (Farfan, Kestler et al. 1997, Benson, Huapaya et al. 1998, Thang, Johnson et al. 1998, Diaz, Loayza et al. 1999, Langer, Garcia-Barrios et al. 1999, Solo, Billings et al. 1999, Billings, del Pozo et al. 2001, Johnson, Ndhlovu et al. 2002). Geographic accessibility to safe, legal abortion services for all eligible women requires the decentralization of services. Strategies for decentralization include engaging midlevel health professionals in abortion care service delivery, developing working referral networks, and using technology appropriate for low resource settings. (6 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

7 A number of countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, South Africa, Mozambique, Sweden and the United States, have adopted the strategy of trained health care professionals such as nurses, midwives, clinical officers, physician assistants, and others providing menstrual regulation or abortion-related care (Billings, Ankrah et al. 1999, Dickson- Tetteh and Billings 2002, Population Council 2000, Yumkella and Githiori 2000, University of North Carolina 2001, Ipas and IHCAR 2002, WHO 2003). These midlevel health care providers tend to be more numerous and more geographically dispersed than physicians. Given appropriate training, they are well qualified to offer abortion-related care, particularly at the primary care level (Ipas and IHCAR 2002). A comparative study conducted in the United States has shown no difference in complication rates between women who had first trimester abortions using manual vacuum aspiration performed by a physician assistant and those who had the same procedure performed by a physician (Freedman, Jillson et al. 1986). A well-functioning referral system is critical to making safe abortion care accessible. Community outreach, health centre, clinic, and hospital staff should be able to direct women to appropriate services. To ensure that women who need care for complications of unsafe abortion receive prompt treatment, referral and transport arrangements between all levels of the health care system are necessary (WHO 2003). In Kenya, a national postabortion care initiative is working to ensure that women in rural communities with postabortion complications receive timely and appropriate care by linking community level health care providers such as community health workers and contraceptive distributors to the formal referral system and training midwives in postabortion care. At least one training site reports a dramatic decline in hospital admissions for abortion complications (Oguttu and Odongo 2001). Technology for safe abortion is appropriate for decentralized settings. The principal clinical competency required to perform abortion care is the removal of products of conception from the uterus. For low resource settings manual vacuum aspiration, which employs a portable, nonelectric, handheld vacuum aspirator, is appropriate (Salter, Johnston et al. 1997, Ipas and IHCAR 2002, Iyengar and Iyengar 2002, WHO (7 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

8 2003). Medical methods of abortion also have been proved safe, effective, and acceptable in low-resource settings including in China, Cuba, India, Tunisia, and Vietnam (Elul, Ellertson et al. 1999, Ngoc, Winikoff et al. 1999, Elul, Hajri et al. 2001, WHO 2003). To be able to maintain high quality care, the decentralization of services necessary to grant women geographical access to safe abortion care requires strong logistical and personnel support. Specific populations, including women with minimal access to financial resources, adolescents, refugees and displaced women, and women infected with HIV have particular needs related to abortion care that health systems must anticipate and attempt to meet. Financial accessibility to abortion care is as important as geographic accessibility. Health system charges, additional informal charges made by providers, and travel costs can render services inaccessible to women with minimal access to financial resources. Where safe services are dauntingly expensive, women are more likely to delay seeking care for complications of unsafe abortion, or seek care from unsafe providers and require hospitalization for serious complications (Johnston, Ved et al. 2003) and thus cost the health system more in the long run. The World Health Organization recommends that abortion never be denied or delayed because of a woman s inability to pay (WHO 2003). Youth aged currently number 1.1 billion globally, and this population continues to grow. Youth suffer disproportionately from unsafe abortion. Over 4.4 million (8 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

9 women aged have abortions every year, 40% of which are performed under unsafe conditions (UNFPA 2003). The incidence of unsafe abortion is rising among unmarried adolescents, especially where abortion is legally restricted and fertility-regulation services are inaccessible to young people. Young people need, want and have a right to reproductive and sexual health services. Ignoring their sexuality leaves them vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Affordable, accessible, and confidential youth-friendly reproductive and sexual health services are essential to decreasing levels of unsafe abortion among youth. A study comparing teenage sexual and reproductive behaviour in Sweden, France, Canada, Great Britain, and the United States found that where young people receive social support, full information, and positive messages about sexuality and sexual relationships, and have easy access to sexual and reproductive health services, they achieve healthier outcomes and lower rates of pregnancy, birth, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases (Alan Guttmacher Institute 2001). Refugee women are at relatively high risk of forced and unprotected sex, and thus of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. The need for safe abortion services for refugee and displaced women is acute: according to UNFPA, 25-50% of maternal deaths in refugee settings result from complications of unsafe abortion (UNFPA 1999, Lehmann 2002). Refugee women have the right to information on legal indications for abortion, and to safe, accessible, and confidential abortion care, including care for complications of unsafe abortion, and contraceptive services. These needs are too often ignored. Women with unwanted pregnancy, particularly young women, are at risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Eleven population-based studies fielded in several African nations demonstrated that average infection rates were over five times higher for teenage girls than teenage boys (9 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

10 (UNAIDS 2000). Young women are particularly vulnerable due to a combination of their immature genital tracts, older male sexual partners, prevalence of sexual violence, and low social status among other factors (UNAIDS 2000). This underscores the importance of including information about safe abortion care in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes, and offering STI and HIV/AIDS counselling and testing when providing abortion care services. Women with minimal access to financial resources, adolescents, refugees and displaced women, women infected with HIV, and other population subgroups clearly have special sexual and reproductive health care needs. However in most cases there are more questions than answers regarding how to effectively meet these needs, particularly when it comes to safe abortion care. While a conservative movement threatens to weaken women s reproductive rights internationally, simultaneously the global community has never before been so united in the call to reduce morbidity and mortality from unsafe abortion. Governments have agreed to make abortion safe and accessible in circumstances in which it is not against the law. Simple, affordable technologies for abortion and postabortion care are available. While a great deal needs to be done in terms of developing, implementing, and documenting interventions, measuring impact, and disseminating successful strategies, the basic approaches for decentralizing services and meeting the needs of population subgroups are acknowledged. To reduce the unnecessary morbidity and mortality from unsafe abortion, research, policy, advocacy, and service delivery work needs to continue to expand on international, national and local levels. Without this continued progress, women will continue unnecessarily to die and suffer serious morbidity from preventable and treatable complications of unsafe abortion. (10 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

11 * Please address questions and comments to Heidi Bart Johnston, Ipas is a nonprofit organization that focuses on abortion care issues worldwide, and manufactures and sells manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) equipment. Footnote: 1. In 2002 and 2003 U.S. funds for UNFPA and Marie Stopes, International were withdrawn because the U.S. administration claims that both organizations support forced abortions in China. However, a team from the U.S. government investigated the claim in China and found no supporting evidence. References: E. Ahman and I. Shah (2002). Unsafe abortion: worldwide estimates for Reproductive Health Matters 10(19): Alan Guttmacher Institute (1999). Sharing responsibility: women, men, society, and abortion worldwide. New York and Washington DC, Alan Guttmacher Institute. Alan Guttmacher Institute (2001). Can more progress be made? Teenage sexual and reproductive behaviour in developed countries. New York and Washington DC, Alan Guttmacher Institute. T. Baird and S. Flinn (2002). Manual vacuum aspiration: expanding women s access to safe abortion services. Chapel Hill, NC, Ipas. J. Benson, V. Huapaya, et al. (1998). Improving quality and lowering costs in an integrated postabortion care model in Peru: Final Report. Carrboro, NC, Ipas/Population Council. D. Billings, V. Ankrah, et al. (1999). Midwives and comprehensive abortion care in Ghana, in Postabortion care: lessons from operations research. D. Huntington and N. Piet-Pelon. New York, Population Council. D. Billings, E. del Pozo, et al. (2001). Testing a model for the delivery of postabortion care in the Bolivian health care system: Final Report. (11 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

12 Chapel Hill, NC, Ipas/Population Council. D. Billings, C. Moreno, et al. (2002). Constructing access to legal abortion services in Mexico city. Reproductive Health Matters 10(19): M.R. Corbett and K.L. Turner (2003). Essential elements of postabortion care: origins, evolution, and future directions. International Family Planning Perspectives (Forthcoming). J. Diaz, M. Loayza, et al. (1999). Improving the quality of services and contraceptive acceptance in the postabortion care period in three public sector hospitals in Bolivia, in Postabortion care: lessons from operations research. D. Huntington and N. Piet-Pelon. New York, Population Council. K. Dickson-Tetteh and D.L. Billings (2002). Abortion care services provided by registered midwives in South Africa. International Family Planning Perspectives 28(3): B. Elul, C. Ellertson, et al. (1999). Side effects of mifepristonemisoprostol abortion versus surgical abortion. Data from a trial in China, Cuba, and India. Contraception 59: B. Elul, S. Hajri, et al. (2001). Can women in less-developed countries use a simplified medical abortion regimen? Lancet 357: O. Farfan, J. Kestler, et al. (1997). Informacion y consejeria en planificacion familiar post-aborto. Experiencia en cuatro hospitales de CentroAmerica. Revista Centroamericana de Ginecologia y Obstetricia 7: A. Faundes, E. Leocadio, et al. (2002). Making legal abortion accessible in Brazil. Reproductive Health Matters 10(19): I. Figa-Talamanca, T. Sinnathuray, et al. (1986). Illegal abortion: an attempt to assess its costs to the health services and its incidence in the community. International Journal of Health Services 16: M. Freedman, D. Jillson, et al. (1986). Comparison of complication rates in first trimester abortions performed by physician assistants and physicians. American Journal of Public Health 76: International Confederation of Midwives (1996). ICM resolution: care of women post abortion (96/23/PP). Oslo, Norway, International Confederation of Midwives. (12 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

13 International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1999). Ethical guidelines regarding induced abortion for non-medical reasons. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 64: Ipas. Women-centered abortion care. Chapel Hill, NC, Ipas (Forthcoming). Ipas and IHCAR (2002). Deciding women s lives are worth saving: expanding the role of midlevel providers in safe abortion care. Chapel Hill, NC, Ipas. K. Iyengar and S. D. Iyengar (2002). Elective abortion as a primary health service in rural India: experience with manual vacuum aspiration. Reproductive Health Matters 10(19): B.R. Johnson, J. Benson, et al. (1993). Costs and resource utilization for the treatment of incomplete abortion in Kenya and Mexico. Social Science and Medicine 36(11): B.R. Johnson, S. Ndhlovu, et al. (2002). Reducing unplanned pregnancy and abortion in Zimbabwe through postabortion contraception. Studies in Family Planning 33(2): H. Johnston, R. Ved, et al. (2003). Where do rural women obtain postabortion care? the case of Uttar Pradesh, India. International Family Planning Perspectives (Forthcoming). A. Langer, C. Garcia-Barrios, et al. (1999). Improving postabortion care with limited resources in a hospital in Brazil, in Postabortion care: lessons from operations research. D. Huntington and N. Piet-Pelon. New York, Population Council. A. Lehmann (2002). Safe abortion: a right for refugees? Reproductive Health Matters 10(19): T. McInerney, T. Baird, et al. (2001). A guide to providing abortion care. Chapel Hill, NC. L. Nawar, D. Huntington, et al. (1999). Cost analysis of postabortion care in Egypt. Postabortion care: lessons learned from operations research. D. Huntington and N. Piet-Pelon. New York, Population Council. N. Ngoc, B. Winikoff, et al. (1999). Safety, efficacy, and acceptability of mifepristone-misoprostol medical abortion in Vietnam. International Family Planning Perspectives 25: (13 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

14 M. Oguttu, and P. Odongo (2001). Midlevel providers role in abortion care: Kenya country report. Expanding access: advancing the role of midlevel providers in menstrual regulation and elective abortion care, Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa. Unpublished conference proceedings. Population Council (2000). Senegal: postabortion care. Train more providers in postabortion care. Washington DC, Population Council, Frontiers in Reproductive Health. C.L. Salter, H. B. Johnston, et al. (1997). Care for postabortion complications: saving women s lives. Population Reports L(10). J. Solo, D. Billings, et al. (1999). Creating linkages between incomplete abortion and family planning services in Kenya. Studies in Family Planning 30(1): N.M. Thang, B. R. Johnson, et al. (1998). Client perspectives on quality of contraceptive and abortion services at three sites in Viet Nam. Carrboro, NC, Ipas. UNAIDS (2000). Report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Geneva, UNAIDS. UNFPA (1999). Reproductive health for refugees and displaced persons. New York, UNFPA. UNFPA (2003). Population issues: supporting adolescents and youth, UNFPA United Nations (1979). Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. New York, United Nations. United Nations (1994). Programme of action adopted at the international conference on population and development, Cairo 5-13 September New York, United Nations United Nations (1995). Fourth world conference on women, declaration and platform for action. Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, New York, United Nations. United Nations (1999). Key actions for the further implementation of the programme of action of the international conference on population and development. New York, United Nations. United Nations Population Division (1999). World abortion policies (14 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

15 1999. New York, United Nations. University of North Carolina (2001). PRIME postabortion care. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina, Program for International Training in Health (INTRAH). World Health Organization (2003). Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health care systems. Geneva, World Health Organization. F. Yumkella, and F. Githiori (2000). Expanding opportunities for postabortion care at the community level through private nursemidwives in Kenya. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina, Program for Training in International Health (INTRAH). (15 of 15) [01/01/2001 6:56:31 AM]

Unsafe abortion incidence and mortality

Unsafe abortion incidence and mortality Information sheet Information sheet Unsafe abortion incidence and mortality Global and regional levels in 08 and trends during 990 08 Unsafe abortion is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as

More information

Preventing unsafe abortion

Preventing unsafe abortion Preventing unsafe abortion Fact sheet N 388 March 2014 Key facts Around 22 million unsafe abortions are estimated to take place worldwide each year, almost all in developing countries. Deaths due to unsafe

More information

Saving women s lives: the health impact of unsafe abortion

Saving women s lives: the health impact of unsafe abortion Saving women s lives: the health impact of unsafe abortion - worldwide and in emergency settings SRHR in Emergencies: from policy commitment to implementation, DGD, Brussels, 18 October 2012 Thérèse Delvaux,

More information

RE: NGO Information on Ghana for the Universal Periodic Review 2008. Key words: women s rights, maternal mortality, reproductive health, abortion

RE: NGO Information on Ghana for the Universal Periodic Review 2008. Key words: women s rights, maternal mortality, reproductive health, abortion Koma Jehu-Appiah Country Director Ipas Ghana PMB CT 193 Cantonments, Accra, Ghana email: jehuk@ipas.org The Human Rights Council OHCHR Civil Society Unit Ms. Laura Dolci-Kanaan NGO Liaison Officer Geneva,

More information

Around the world, according to a new

Around the world, according to a new Guttmacher Policy Review GPR Fall 2009 Volume 12 Number 4 Facts and Consequences: Legality, Incidence and Safety of Abortion Worldwide By Susan A. Cohen Around the world, according to a new Guttmacher

More information

12 June 2015 Geneva, Switzerland Dr. Shirin Heidari, Director, Reproductive Health Matters sheidari@rhmjournal.org.uk

12 June 2015 Geneva, Switzerland Dr. Shirin Heidari, Director, Reproductive Health Matters sheidari@rhmjournal.org.uk Submission on General Comment on Article 6 (Right to Life) under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to the United Nations Human Rights Committee By Reproductive Health Matters

More information

IMAP Statement on Safe Abortion

IMAP Statement on Safe Abortion International Planned Parenthood Federation IMAP Statement on Safe Abortion Key points: When performed early in pregnancy by trained health personnel in adequate facilities, abortion is a very safe procedure

More information

An Overview of Abortion in the United States. Guttmacher Institute January 2014

An Overview of Abortion in the United States. Guttmacher Institute January 2014 An Overview of Abortion in the United States Guttmacher Institute January 2014 Objectives Provide an overview of unintended pregnancy and abortion in the United States. Review the incidence of pregnancy

More information

Induced Abortion. Dr. Anan Sacdpraseuth Mahosot Hospital

Induced Abortion. Dr. Anan Sacdpraseuth Mahosot Hospital Induced Abortion Dr. Anan Sacdpraseuth Mahosot Hospital GFMER - WHO - UNFPA - LAO PDR Training Course in Reproductive Health Research Vientiane, 26 November 2009 Induced Abortion Introduction 40 to 60

More information

Advocacy for Safe Abortion Access

Advocacy for Safe Abortion Access PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL abortion policy scan for advocacy objectives This tool is intended to help organizations: Assess the legal context for abortion. Assess the actual/on-the-ground context for abortion.

More information

IV. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN. Twentieth session (1999) *

IV. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN. Twentieth session (1999) * IV. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN Twentieth session (1999) * General recommendation No. 24: Article 12 of the Convention (women and

More information

Abortion: Worldwide Levels and Trends

Abortion: Worldwide Levels and Trends Abortion: Worldwide Levels and Trends Gilda Sedgh Stanley Henshaw Susheela Singh Iqbal Shah (WHO) Elizabeth Aahman (WHO) Background Induced abortion is important from health, political, religious and rights

More information

Post-2015 Negotiation Briefs #8: Youth Friendly Services in Universal Health Coverage

Post-2015 Negotiation Briefs #8: Youth Friendly Services in Universal Health Coverage Post-2015 Negotiation Briefs #8: Youth Friendly Services in Universal Health Coverage Introduction Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is seen a key contributor to ensuring a healthy population and, in turn,

More information

The Role of International Law in Reducing Maternal Mortality

The Role of International Law in Reducing Maternal Mortality The Role of International Law in Reducing Maternal Mortality K. Madison Burnett * Safe motherhood is a human rights issue The death of a woman during pregnancy or childbirth is not only a health issue

More information

The Decriminalization of Abortion: A Human Rights Imperative

The Decriminalization of Abortion: A Human Rights Imperative The Decriminalization of Abortion: A Human Rights Imperative Prepared by August 2013 Table of Contents Introduction...1 I. The Fundamental Right to Abortion...1 II. The Unintended Effects of Criminalization...3

More information

Safe & Unsafe. abortion

Safe & Unsafe. abortion Safe & Unsafe Facts About abortion WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UNSAFE AND SAFE ABORTION? What is unsafe abortion? Unsafe abortion is a procedure for terminating an unplanned pregnancy either by a person

More information

UNAIDS 2013 AIDS by the numbers

UNAIDS 2013 AIDS by the numbers UNAIDS 2013 AIDS by the numbers 33 % decrease in new HIV infections since 2001 29 % decrease in AIDS-related deaths (adults and children) since 2005 52 % decrease in new HIV infections in children since

More information

Questionnaire to the UN system and other intergovernmental organizations

Questionnaire to the UN system and other intergovernmental organizations Questionnaire to the UN system and other intergovernmental organizations The report of the 13 th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues provides a number of recommendations within its mandated

More information

Promoting the Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health of Adolescents and Youth:

Promoting the Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health of Adolescents and Youth: August 2011 About the Youth Health and Rights Coalition The Youth Health and Rights Coalition (YHRC) is comprised of advocates and implementers who, in collaboration with young people and adult allies,

More information

Progress and prospects

Progress and prospects Ending CHILD MARRIAGE Progress and prospects UNICEF/BANA213-182/Kiron The current situation Worldwide, more than 7 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday. More than one in three

More information

disabilities THE GAP REPORT 2014

disabilities THE GAP REPORT 2014 THE GAP REPORT 2014 People with disabilities There are more than one billion people living with a physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health disability in the world four out of five live in low-

More information

Access to Safe Abortion: Progress and Challenges since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)

Access to Safe Abortion: Progress and Challenges since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) ICPD Beyond 2014 Expert Meeting on Women's Health - rights, empowerment and social determinants 30 th September - 2nd October, Mexico City Access to Safe Abortion: Progress and Challenges since the 1994

More information

ORGANIZATIONS. Organization Programmatic Areas of Focus Notes Interviewed? Yes. Averting Maternal Death and Disability (AMDD)

ORGANIZATIONS. Organization Programmatic Areas of Focus Notes Interviewed? Yes. Averting Maternal Death and Disability (AMDD) Averting Maternal Death and Disability (AMDD) Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health (UCSF) Global advocacy, human rights, strengthening health systems (conducting needs assessments for EmOC, strengthening

More information

HEIDI BART JOHNSTON, PHD

HEIDI BART JOHNSTON, PHD HEIDI BART JOHNSTON, PHD REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS RESEARCH CONSULTANT ADDRESS: WEIDENWEG 1 EMAIL: heidibartjohnston@gmail.com 8620 WETZIKON ZH MOBILE: +41(0)77 438 2653 SWITZERLAND EDUCATION PHD

More information

The FIGO Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion

The FIGO Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion The FIGO Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion By Professor Hamid Rushwan, Chief Executive, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Bangkok, IWAC 2013 Mission Statement The International

More information

Promoting Family Planning

Promoting Family Planning Promoting Family Planning INTRODUCTION Voluntary family planning has been widely adopted throughout the world. More than half of all couples in the developing world now use a modern method of contraception

More information

Safe and unsafe abortion Practice Paper DFID Policy July 2011

Safe and unsafe abortion Practice Paper DFID Policy July 2011 Safe and unsafe abortion Practice Paper DFID Policy July 2011 1 DFID Policy 2011 UK s policy position on safe and unsafe abortion in developing countries Practice Paper 2 CONTENTS Contents Executive Summary

More information

Abortion in Zambia. unsafe abortions accounted for 30 percent of all maternal deaths in Zambia. Understanding the phenomena. Namuchana Mushabati

Abortion in Zambia. unsafe abortions accounted for 30 percent of all maternal deaths in Zambia. Understanding the phenomena. Namuchana Mushabati Namuchana Mushabati Unsafe abortions remain a major concern and cause of maternal deaths in Zambia despite the existence of the Termination of Pregnancy Act No. 26 of 1972 and several other policies and

More information

cambodia Maternal, Newborn AND Child Health and Nutrition

cambodia Maternal, Newborn AND Child Health and Nutrition cambodia Maternal, Newborn AND Child Health and Nutrition situation Between 2000 and 2010, Cambodia has made significant progress in improving the health of its children. The infant mortality rate has

More information

Causes and Consequences of Unintended Pregnancy in Developing Countries

Causes and Consequences of Unintended Pregnancy in Developing Countries Causes and Consequences of Unintended Pregnancy in Developing Countries Ian Askew, PhD Director, Reproductive Health Services and Research and Co-Director, Strengthening Evidence for Programming on Unintended

More information

Counting abortions so that abortion counts: Indicators for monitoring the availability and use of abortion care services

Counting abortions so that abortion counts: Indicators for monitoring the availability and use of abortion care services International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2006) 95, 209 220 www.elsevier.com/locate/ijgo AVERTING MATERNAL DEATH AND DISABILITY Counting abortions so that abortion counts: Indicators for monitoring

More information

From Cairo to New York

From Cairo to New York From Cairo to New York Inventory of youth sexual and reproductive health and rights language since the 1994 International CPD Researched and compiled by sulava d. gautam-adhikary, mpp Advocates for Youth

More information

Safe and unsafe abortion

Safe and unsafe abortion Safe and unsafe abortion The UK s policy position on safe and unsafe abortion in developing countries Place cover image over grey area sized to 196(w) x 163(h) mm June 2014 A DFID strategic document Contents

More information

From abortion to contraception

From abortion to contraception From abortion to contraception G. Benagiano, M. Farris, C. Bastianelli Department of Gynaecological Sciences, University la Sapienza, Rome In the whole field of health there is no topic that has, throughout

More information

Incidence of Unintended Pregnancies Worldwide in 2012 and Trends Since 1995 Susheela Singh, Gilda Sedgh, Rubina Hussain, Michelle Eilers

Incidence of Unintended Pregnancies Worldwide in 2012 and Trends Since 1995 Susheela Singh, Gilda Sedgh, Rubina Hussain, Michelle Eilers Incidence of Unintended Pregnancies Worldwide in 2012 and Trends Since 1995 Susheela Singh, Gilda Sedgh, Rubina Hussain, Michelle Eilers Introduction Unintended pregnancies and unplanned births can have

More information

Preventing through education

Preventing through education Ministerial Declaration Preventing through education The Ministerial Declaration Preventing through Education, was approved in Mexico City in the framework of the 1st Meeting of Ministers of Health and

More information

HIV/AIDS: AWARENESS AND BEHAVIOUR

HIV/AIDS: AWARENESS AND BEHAVIOUR ST/ESA/SER.A/209/ES DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS POPULATION DIVISION HIV/AIDS: AWARENESS AND BEHAVIOUR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK 200 1 2 HIV/AIDS: AWARENESS AND BEHAVIOUR Executive

More information

50 years THE GAP REPORT 2014

50 years THE GAP REPORT 2014 THE GAP REPORT 2014 People aged 50 years and older The ageing of the world s population is one of the most significant demographic trends of this era, and there are a growing number of people aged 50 and

More information

CHAPTER IV: Abortion. Unsafe abortion is responsible for 13% of all annual maternal deaths globally. 5

CHAPTER IV: Abortion. Unsafe abortion is responsible for 13% of all annual maternal deaths globally. 5 CHAPTER IV: Abortion While the last 30 years have seen a global trend toward liberalization of national abortion laws, many governments around the world continue to impose legal barriers to abortion services.

More information

Moving from Research to Program The Egyptian Postabortion Care Initiative

Moving from Research to Program The Egyptian Postabortion Care Initiative Moving from Research to Program The Egyptian Postabortion Care Initiative In settings where abortion is legally restricted and socially sanctioned, the medical treatment of women who have had unsafe or

More information

Revised pregnancy termination laws. proposed for Tasmania

Revised pregnancy termination laws. proposed for Tasmania Submission to the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services on the Revised pregnancy termination laws proposed for Tasmania Draft Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill April 2013 Introduction

More information

A Toolbook to Accompany the COPE Handbook. www.ipas.org. www.engenderhealth.org/cope. EngenderHealth s Quality Improvement Series

A Toolbook to Accompany the COPE Handbook. www.ipas.org. www.engenderhealth.org/cope. EngenderHealth s Quality Improvement Series COPE for Comprehensive Abortion Care Services A Toolbook to Accompany the COPE Handbook EngenderHealth s Quality Improvement Series www.engenderhealth.org/cope www.ipas.org EngenderHealth s Quality Improvement

More information

XVIIth International Aids Conference, Mexico City

XVIIth International Aids Conference, Mexico City XVIIth International Aids Conference, Mexico City 5 August 2008 Parliamentary Briefing on HIV/AIDS: parliamentarians as partners in the fight against HIV. Prof. Dr. Marleen Temmerman, Senator, Belgian

More information

q & A Abortion www.reproductiverights.org PANTONE 711 PANTONE 151

q & A Abortion www.reproductiverights.org PANTONE 711 PANTONE 151 q & A Abortion and the Law in Uganda www.reproductiverights.org PANTONE 711 PANTONE 151 Q. What Is the Impact of Unsafe Abortion in Uganda? High Rates of Maternal Death Unsafe abortion accounts for approximately

More information

Unwanted Pregnancies in the Philippines: the Route to Induced Abortion and health consequences ABSTRACT

Unwanted Pregnancies in the Philippines: the Route to Induced Abortion and health consequences ABSTRACT Unwanted Pregnancies in the Philippines: the Route to Induced Abortion and health consequences Fatima Juarez, Josefina Cabigon and Susheela Singh JUSTIFICATION ABSTRACT Illegal or clandestine abortion

More information

Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital

Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital 6. UNSAFE ABORTIONS The family planning programme of India is targeting towards providing a wide range of contraceptive choices to eligible couples with the ultimate objective of decreasing the unwanted

More information

Infertility Causes, Prevention and Programmatic strategies

Infertility Causes, Prevention and Programmatic strategies This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. Your use of this material constitutes acceptance of that license and the conditions of use of materials on this

More information

How Universal is Access to Reproductive Health?

How Universal is Access to Reproductive Health? How Universal is Access to Reproductive Health? A review of the evidence Cover Copyright UNFPA 2010 September 2010 Publication available at: http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/6526 The designations

More information

INDUCED ABORTION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

INDUCED ABORTION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA INDUCED ABORTION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA 999-2004 REPORT OF THE WA ABORTION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM JULY 2005 Maternal and Child Health Unit Information Collection and Management Department of Health Western

More information

How To Help Girls And Young Women With Hiv

How To Help Girls And Young Women With Hiv MAKE IT MATTER 10 KEY ADVOCACY MESSAGES TO PREVENT HIV IN GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN WITH A FOCUS ON: IMPROVING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN EXPANDING

More information

MATERNAL HEALTH AND ACCESS TO SAFE ABORTION PROGRAM

MATERNAL HEALTH AND ACCESS TO SAFE ABORTION PROGRAM MATERNAL HEALTH AND ACCESS TO SAFE ABORTION PROGRAM BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM STATEMENT Medical students and future health care professionals lack the information about maternal health and access to safe

More information

Central African Republic Country brief and funding request February 2015

Central African Republic Country brief and funding request February 2015 PEOPLE AFFECTED 2 700 000 affected with 2,000,000 target by Humanitarian response 1 472 000 of those in need, targeted for health service support by WHO 430 000 internally displaced 426 000 refugees HEALTH

More information

Shutterstock TACstock

Shutterstock TACstock Shutterstock TACstock 10 Introduction Since 2000, the IDF Diabetes Atlas has detailed the extent of diabetes and this seventh edition shows how it is impacting every country, every age group and every

More information

Family Planning Curriculum

Family Planning Curriculum Family Planning Curriculum University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Module 1: Introduction Incidence of unintended pregnancy and abortion Safety of abortion, morbidity

More information

Women and Health Learning Package UNWANTED PREGNANCY AND UNSAFE ABORTION

Women and Health Learning Package UNWANTED PREGNANCY AND UNSAFE ABORTION Women and Health Learning Package UNWANTED PREGNANCY AND UNSAFE ABORTION An Educational Resource for Health Professions Students Deyanira González de León Deborah L. Billings Shakuntala Chhabra Todd M.

More information

Overview of Unsafe Abortion: Focus on Africa

Overview of Unsafe Abortion: Focus on Africa 26-06- 2013 Overview of Unsafe Abortion: Focus on Africa Amb. Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah MB. ChB, FWACP. FRCOG Ipas Vice President, Africa ESCRH Conference, Copenhagen, May 22-25 2013 Oldest known visual

More information

Advocate for Women s Rights Using International Law

Advocate for Women s Rights Using International Law 300 Appendix A Advocate for Women s Rights Using International Law The United Nations (UN) brings together almost every government in the world to discuss issues, resolve conflicts, and make treaties affecting

More information

Delaying First Pregnancy

Delaying First Pregnancy Delaying First Pregnancy Introduction The age at which a woman has her first pregnancy affects the health and life of a mother and her baby. While pregnancy can present health risks at any age, delaying

More information

Abortion F A C T S & F I G U R E S

Abortion F A C T S & F I G U R E S Abortion F A C T S & F I G U R E S 2 0 1 1 Table of Contents Introduction... 1 Overview... 3 Incidence of Unsafe Abortion... 5 Maternal Health... 9 Safe Abortion... 11 Unsafe Abortion... 13 Post-Abortion

More information

Dabash R 1, Peña M 1, Koladycz R 2, Carino G 2, Mejia M 2, Winikoff B 1, Ward V 2.

Dabash R 1, Peña M 1, Koladycz R 2, Carino G 2, Mejia M 2, Winikoff B 1, Ward V 2. How Provider Attitudes Towards Abortion Can Impact the Quality of and Access to Abortion Services: An Assessment of IPPF/WHR Provider Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in 6 Latin American and Caribbean

More information

Evidence-based best practices to reduce maternal mortality

Evidence-based best practices to reduce maternal mortality Evidence-based best practices to reduce maternal mortality Presented at the HerDignity Network Webinar 8 October 2014 Monique V. Chireau, MD, MPH Assistant Professor, Department of OB/GYN Duke University

More information

Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting

Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Policy Hearing Panel Second Round Revision BACKGROUND The social work profession is in a distinctive position to respond to the issues

More information

Investing in Gender Equality: Ending Violence against Women and Girls. Investing in Gender Equality: Ending Violence against Women and Girls

Investing in Gender Equality: Ending Violence against Women and Girls. Investing in Gender Equality: Ending Violence against Women and Girls Investing in Gender Equality: Ending Violence against Women and Girls Investing in Gender Equality: Ending Violence against Women and Girls Violence against women is a global pandemic: Between and 76 per

More information

Belfast Feminist Network

Belfast Feminist Network Belfast Feminist Network Written evidence on the proposed amendment to the Justice Bill brought before the Justice Committee by Jim Wells MLA on 2 July 2014 Belfast Feminist Network is a community collective

More information

Lives worth saving: Abortion care in sub-saharan Africa since ICPD A progress report

Lives worth saving: Abortion care in sub-saharan Africa since ICPD A progress report Lives worth saving: Abortion care in sub-saharan Africa since ICPD A progress report Ipas Lives worth saving: Abortion care in sub-saharan Africa since ICPD A progress report Ipas 2004 Ipas ISBN: 1-882220-68-4

More information

Crafting an Abortion Law that Respects Women s Rights: Issues to Consider

Crafting an Abortion Law that Respects Women s Rights: Issues to Consider BRIEFING PAPER Crafting an Abortion Law that Respects Women s Rights: Issues to Consider The safety and accessibility of abortion depend largely on the laws and policies that regulate it. In drafting legislation

More information

The realities of unsafe abortion in Bolivia: Evidence from the field

The realities of unsafe abortion in Bolivia: Evidence from the field Brief Series The realities of unsafe abortion in Bolivia: Evidence from the field By Sarah Thurston 1 Ramiro Claure 2 Thoai D. Ngo 1 Summary More than 80,000 induced abortions take place in Bolivia every

More information

CORRELATIONAL ANALYSIS BETWEEN TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND MATERNAL MORTALITY IN MALAWI

CORRELATIONAL ANALYSIS BETWEEN TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND MATERNAL MORTALITY IN MALAWI CORRELATIONAL ANALYSIS BETWEEN TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND MATERNAL MORTALITY IN MALAWI Abiba Longwe-Ngwira and Nissily Mushani African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) P.O. Box 31024, Lilongwe 3 Malawi

More information

guidance note 2012 KEY PROGRAMMES TO REDUCE STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION AND INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN NATIONAL HIV RESPONSES

guidance note 2012 KEY PROGRAMMES TO REDUCE STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION AND INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN NATIONAL HIV RESPONSES guidance note 2012 KEY PROGRAMMES TO REDUCE STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION AND INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN NATIONAL HIV RESPONSES UNAIDS / JC2339E (English original, May 2012) ISBN: 978-92-9173-962-2 Joint

More information

The Washington State Democratic Convention - Summary of an Agreement

The Washington State Democratic Convention - Summary of an Agreement SC - 0-0 - RECP - HEA - Access to Family Planning Page of 0 Funding for Access to Family Planning: A Necessity for Community Health in Rural Areas WHEREAS family planning services improve health care outcomes

More information

Causes and Consequences of Unwanted Pregnancy from Asian Women's Perspectives. Sandra M. Kabir

Causes and Consequences of Unwanted Pregnancy from Asian Women's Perspectives. Sandra M. Kabir Kabir, Sandra M.: Causes and Consequences of Unwanted Pregnancy from Asian Women's Perspectives. International Journal of Obstetrics. 1989. Supple 3.p.9-14. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More information

Dublin Declaration. on Partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia

Dublin Declaration. on Partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia Dublin Declaration on Partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia Against the background of the global emergency of the HIV/AIDS epidemic with 40 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS,

More information

Statement by Dr. Sugiri Syarief, MPA

Statement by Dr. Sugiri Syarief, MPA Check against delivery_ Commission on Population and Development 45th Session Economic and Social Council Statement by Dr. Sugiri Syarief, MPA Chairperson of the National Population and Family Planning

More information

Sexual and reproductive health challenges facing young people

Sexual and reproductive health challenges facing young people Sexual and reproductive health challenges facing young people Shireen J Jejeebhoy, KG Santhya and R Acharya Population Council, New Delhi Lea Hegg Independent consultant, Reproductive Health United Nations

More information

Challenges & opportunities

Challenges & opportunities SCALING UP FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES IN AFRICA THROUGH CHRISTIAN HEALTH SYSTEMS Challenges & opportunities Samuel Mwenda MD Africa Christian Health Associations Platform/CHAK Presentation outline Introduction

More information

COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. Twenty- Second Session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION

COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. Twenty- Second Session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION UNITED NATIONS CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr. GENERAL CRC/C/15/Add.111 10 November 1999 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Twenty- Second Session CONSIDERATION OF

More information

Banjul Declaration on the Strategies for Accelerating the Implementation of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action

Banjul Declaration on the Strategies for Accelerating the Implementation of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action Distr.: GENERAL UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA E/ECA/ARCW/8/11 15 December 2009 Original: ENGLISH Eighth Africa Regional Conference on Women (Beijing + 15) 19 20 November 2009 Banjul, The

More information

Unsafe abortion is one of the most

Unsafe abortion is one of the most P O P U L A T I O N R E F E R E N C E B U R E A U Abortion in the Middle East and North Africa by Rasha Dabash and Farzaneh Roudi-Fahimi Figure 1 Unsafe abortion is one of the most neglected public health

More information

New Brunswick Health Indicators

New Brunswick Health Indicators New Brunswick Health Indicators Issue 8, July 2013 A population health bulletin published by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health Youth Sexual Health Sexual health is an important aspect of

More information

Inter-agency global evaluation of reproductive health services for refugees and internally displaced persons

Inter-agency global evaluation of reproductive health services for refugees and internally displaced persons Inter-agency global evaluation of reproductive health services for refugees and internally displaced persons November 2004 2004 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees This document is not a formal

More information

Education material for teachers of midwifery. Midwifery education modules - second edition

Education material for teachers of midwifery. Midwifery education modules - second edition Education material for teachers of midwifery Midwifery education modules - second edition Education material for teachers of midwifery Midwifery education modules - second edition C m nternational onfederation

More information

Bachelor s degree in Nursing (Midwifery)

Bachelor s degree in Nursing (Midwifery) Tbilisi State Medical University Faculty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The first level of academic higher education Bachelor s degree in Nursing (Midwifery) TBILISI 2012 Name of qualification

More information

By Jamila Taylor and Anu Kumar. spotlight on women

By Jamila Taylor and Anu Kumar. spotlight on women spotlight on women How Existing U.S. Policy Limits Global Health and the Achievement of Millennium Development Goals to Improve Maternal Health and Promote Gender Equality By Jamila Taylor and Anu Kumar

More information

In the chapters of this document prepared by individuals with expertise in the

In the chapters of this document prepared by individuals with expertise in the Overview of Chapters In the chapters of this document prepared by individuals with expertise in the particular subject, sector, or subgroup under study we will explore in depth some selected analytic and

More information

A risk reduction strategy to prevent maternal deaths associated with unsafe abortion

A risk reduction strategy to prevent maternal deaths associated with unsafe abortion International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2006) 95, 221 226 www.elsevier.com/locate/ijgo AVERTING MATERNAL DEATH AND DISABILITY A risk reduction strategy to prevent maternal deaths associated

More information

Women s Health Victoria

Women s Health Victoria Women s Health Victoria Termination of Pregnancy Post 20 Weeks Background Paper March 2007 Prepared by Kerrilie Rice Policy and Research Officer Published by Level 1, 123 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria

More information

RESEARCH RESULTS. Postabortion Care for Adolescents: Results from Research in the Dominican Republic and Malawi

RESEARCH RESULTS. Postabortion Care for Adolescents: Results from Research in the Dominican Republic and Malawi RESEARCH Postabortion Care for Adolescents: Results from Research in the Dominican Republic and Malawi RESULTS 2004 EngenderHealth. All rights reserved. 440 Ninth Avenue New York, NY 10001 U.S.A. Telephone:

More information

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy before the. Original Article. Paudel N 1 1 INTRODUCTION

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy before the. Original Article. Paudel N 1 1 INTRODUCTION , Vol. 1,. 2, Issue 2, Oct.-Dec., 2012 Original Article Paudel N 1 1 Lecturer, B.Sc. Nursing Programme, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal Abstract Background: Medical abortion

More information

Unsafe Abortion in Thailand: Roles of RTCOG

Unsafe Abortion in Thailand: Roles of RTCOG Thai Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology January 2014, Vol. 22, pp. 2-7 SPECIAL ARTICLE Unsafe Abortion in Thailand: Roles of RTCOG Prof. Kamheang Chaturachinda, MB ChB, MD, FRCOG Former President of

More information

POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU. Unsafe Abortion FACTS & FIGURES

POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU. Unsafe Abortion FACTS & FIGURES POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU Unsafe Abortion FACTS & FIGURES 2005 Table of Contents Introduction... 1 Overview... 3 Incidence of Unsafe Abortion... 5 Maternal Health... 9 Safe Abortion... 11 Unsafe Abortion...

More information

Abortion and Suicide. Dr Peadar O Grady. Consultant Child Psychiatrist

Abortion and Suicide. Dr Peadar O Grady. Consultant Child Psychiatrist Abortion and Suicide Dr Peadar O Grady Consultant Child Psychiatrist What is Doctors for choice? Doctors for Choice is an organisation of doctors who wish to promote choice in reproductive healthcare.

More information

6.1 Contraceptive Knowledge and Practices of Women Requesting Medical Termination of Pregnancy

6.1 Contraceptive Knowledge and Practices of Women Requesting Medical Termination of Pregnancy 6. UNSAFE ABORTIONS Complications from unsafe abortions if untreated, could lead to morbidity or death. The best way to prevent unsafe abortions is to reduce the unmet need for contraception and make safe

More information

Fact Sheet: Girls and Young Women

Fact Sheet: Girls and Young Women Fact Sheet: Girls and Young Women There are 1.8 billion young people in the world. Approximately half of them 900 million are adolescent girls and young women. Girls primary school completion rates are

More information

Traci L. Baird, MPH Susan K. Flinn, MA

Traci L. Baird, MPH Susan K. Flinn, MA Traci L. Baird, MPH Susan K. Flinn, MA Ipas Ipas works globally to improve women s lives through a focus on reproductive health. We train and equip health care providers to ensure that abortion services

More information

What does gender have to do with human rights?

What does gender have to do with human rights? I International Women s Day: March 8, 2014 What does gender have to do with human rights? Although human rights are universal, access to claiming these rights, unfortunately, is not. Every day, in countries

More information

Platform for Action Towards the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)

Platform for Action Towards the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) Platform for Action Towards the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) A matter of gender equality The Donors Working Group on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting We stand together in consensus

More information

How To Pass The Constitution Of South Africa

How To Pass The Constitution Of South Africa (18 February 2008 to date) [This is the current version and applies as from 18 February 2008 to date, i.e. the date of commencement of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Act 1 of 2008 to

More information

POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU. Unsafe Abortion. Abortion FACTS & FIGURES

POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU. Unsafe Abortion. Abortion FACTS & FIGURES POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU Unsafe Abortion Abortion FACTS & FIGURES 2006 Table of Contents Introduction... 1 Overview... 3 Incidence of Unsafe Abortion... 5 Maternal Health...9 Safe Abortion... 11 Unsafe

More information

Information for you Abortion care

Information for you Abortion care Information for you Abortion care Published in February 2012 This information is for you if you are considering having an abortion. It tells you: how you can access abortion services the care you can expect

More information

How To Help The Ghanian Hiv Recipe Cards

How To Help The Ghanian Hiv Recipe Cards UN AID S PROGRAM M E COORDIN AT ING BO ARD UNAIDS/PCB (32)/13.CRP 3 Issue date: 07 June 2013 THIRTY-SECOND MEETING Date: 25-27 June 2013 Venue: Executive Board Room, WHO, Geneva Agenda item 4 Joint United

More information