African women face significant barriers to exercising their reproductive freedom. Access to contraception is generally extremely limited, and where it is available, it can be prohibitively expensive. Consequently, unintended pregnancies are common and expose women to serious health risks associated with pregnancy, childbirth and unsafe abortion. Deaths and injuries related to pregnancy are higher in Africa than anywhere else in the world.
Laws and policies governing access to safe abortion vary from country to country in Africa, ranging from very restrictive, such as in Kenya, where abortion is permitted only to save the life of the woman, to liberal, such as in South Africa, where abortion is permitted through the 12th week of pregnancy. Even where abortion is legally permitted, however, lack of supportive policies combine with shortages of trained providers and appropriate medical equipment to severely impede women’s ability to obtain safe services. And, as with contraception, the cost of safe abortion is beyond the economic reach of most African women. Left with no better option, they often resort to life-threatening methods to terminate unintended pregnancies.
The risk of death from unsafe abortion is higher in Africa than in any other region. According to WHO, about 5.5 million unsafe abortions occur in Africa each year, accounting for almost half of the world’s deaths from unsafe abortions. Throughout the continent, women under the age of 20 most often fall victim to unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion, which can result in injuries and disabilities including uterine perforation, chronic pelvic pain and secondary infertility. Additionally, girls who become pregnant often drop out of school, compromising their future educational and economic prospects. As the largest-ever generation of young people enters their reproductive years, it is more urgent than ever to help women prevent unintended pregnancy and to address unsafe abortion in Africa. It is also crucial to improve the education and health services which help young people develop into healthy adults.
