On average, 73.3 million induced (safe and unsafe) abortions occurred worldwide each year between the year 2015 and 2019 as reported in a research carryout by Bearak et al., and published in September 2020.
Abortion is said to be safe, when it’s carried out in line with standard procedure as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and appropriate to the pregnancy duration, and carried out by qualified medical personnel with the necessary skills and expertise.
Such abortions can be done using specific drugs (medical abortion) or a outpatient procedure.
An abortion is said to be unsafe when it is done either by a personnel lacking the necessary skills and expertise or in an environment that do not conform to minimal medical standards, or both.
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Across the World, women and adolescents with unintended pregnancies often opt for unsafe abortion whenever accessing safe abortion fail to come through for them. There are lots of challenges and barriers to accessing safe abortion Worldwide which includes:
1. Restrictive laws.
2. Poor availability of services in rural Communities.
2. High cost where service is available.
3. Stigma.
4. Provision of misleading information by unreliable source.
5. Need for third-party authorization, and request of medical tests that delay care.
Amidst the many barriers that limit access to safe abortion care, the lack of personnel with skills and expertise is one of the most critical. In most countries, women in rural areas and those who are dependent on the public health facilities are most affected.
The complications of unsafe abortion can endanger live, hence, there is need for strategic action against unsafe abortion practice in the society.
Comprehensive sexual enlightenment and public health campaign on unsafe abortion can help prevent the menace arising from unsafe abortion. Prevention of unwanted pregnancy through the use of effective contraception, provision of safe and legal abortion will also help prevent deaths and disability from unsafe abortion.
Eliminating unsafe abortion is possible and achievable.