European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

TACKLING UNSAFE ABORTION: A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE

Aworinde Olufemi*, Ogunlaja Olumuyiwa, Olufemi-Aworinde Kehinde, Joel-Medewase Victor, Owonikoko Kola and Adeyemi Adewale

ABSTRACT

Unsafe abortion is a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy, either by persons lacking the necessary skills, or in an environment lacking the minimal medical standards, or both. It is a leading cause of maternal mortality being responsible for about 13% worldwide. In addition to this it leads to reduction in the workforce, loss of man hours and ultimately reduction in a country‟s gross domestic product. An estimated 21.6 million unsafe abortions occur worldwide. Numbers of unsafe abortions have increased over the years although the overall unsafe abortion rate remains unchanged at about 14 unsafe abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years. There is a disproportionately high occurrence (about 98%) in developing countries. The causes of unintended pregnancy include lack of female education, lack of women empowerment, poverty and unmet contraceptive need. Thus, to deal with this health crisis, a public health approach is needed. This involves, enacting enabling abortion laws, providing access to modern contraceptive services, improving access to safe abortion services, providing information about abortion and improving the status of women in the society.

Keywords: Unsafe, abortion, public, health, contraceptive, law.