Africa, Azia and South America have the highest pregnancy related death rates of the world. The main cause is unsafe abortion because of restrictive abortion laws.
What is the situation and how can we change this?
photo by Rebekah Heacock (flickr.com)
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Abortion in Colombia
The New York Times
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2006
Colombia, which until May 10 had completely banned abortion, has legalized it in cases when the pregnancy endangers the life or health of the mother, or results from rape or incest, or if the fetus is unlikely to survive.
Along with El Salvador and Chile, Colombia had been one of three countries in Latin America where abortion was completely prohibited. The decision adds to a string of legal rulings relaxing abortion rules in Latin America, and will encourage abortion-rights advocates elsewhere.
Almost as important as the ruling itself, however, are the reasons behind it. In Colombia, as in most of Latin America, abortion is a huge public health problem. It is shockingly common, ending one in four pregnancies in Colombia. Women there average more than one abortion over their fertile years. By the government's rough estimate, unsafe abortion is the third leading cause of maternal mortality.
Catholic Church leaders have threatened to excommunicate the judges, along with women who undergo abortions and doctors who perform them. But most of Colombia's politicians who have spoken out, including the conservative president,
297,000 Unsafe abortions in Uganda
All Africa February 21, 2006 "A recent study shows that an estimated 297,000 induced abortions - 54 for every 1,000 women - occur every year. This reflects one in every five pregnancies." "Health officials warn that at this rate, half of all Ugandan women will require treatment for complications related to abortion in their lifetime." "Ugandan law forbids abortion and induced abortion is allowed only when the pregnancy endangers a woman's life. Legal abortions are rare, and are almost impossible given the detailed process for obtaining approval - where providers require certification from three doctors; many healthcare providers and women are unaware of the provisions of the law." "The study points out that about half of all pregnancies in the country are unintended, 51 per cent of married women aged 15 to 49 and 12 per cent of unmarried women have an unmet need for effective contraceptives."