MSF pushes safe abortions

Cause of one in 12 maternal deaths globally

DOCTORS Without Borders (MSF) will use International Women’s Day on March 8 to highlight the medical impact of unsafe abortions in the many low-resource and conflictaffected countries in which MSF works – and the necessity of safe abortion care.

Two years ago, MSF staff treated more than 23 000 patients with post-abortion complications.

In some hospitals where MSF teams work, up to 30% of obstetric complications may be due to unsafe abortion.

The organisation said while the world had made significant progress on four of the five main causes of maternal mortality, unsafe abortion – the only fully preventable cause – had been largely neglected.

“Unsafe abortion still accounts for at least one in 12 maternal deaths globally.

“And compared to reductions in all the other direct causes of maternal deaths since 1990 – severe bleeding, severe infection, blood pressure disorders and obstructed labour – there has been little improvement in the negative impact of unsafe abortion,” said MSF.

About 45% of abortions globally were deemed unsafe and more than 22 000 women and girls die each year after undertaking an unsafe abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute’s comprehensive report published last year. MSF said about 97% of unsafe abortions and related deaths occur in Africa, Latin America and southern and western Asia, all regions where MSF offers medical assistance.

“Meanwhile, the scale of post-abortion complications is enormous, with an estimated 7 million women and girls being admitted to hospital every year.

“Some will be permanently disabled and some will never be able to carry a child again.

“Yet we will never know the full extent because there are many women and girls who dare not, or cannot, access care.”

MSF’s experience in countries such as Colombia, Greece, Mozambique and South Africa had confirmed the diversity of women and girls facing an unwanted pregnancy: married and unmarried, women with children and girls who still go to school, urban women with education and those from rural villages.

“Some have been using contraception that failed, or ran out due to interrupted supply.

“Some have been coerced into pregnancy; or become pregnant due to sexual violence.

“Others have faced financial and emotional hardship, with and without partners or family support.

“Some have been caught up in a humanitarian crisis and fled for their lives.”