The Zika virus epidemic has reached more than 20 countries in the Americas and is the potential cause, with circumstantial evidence, for thousands of cases of microcephaly, in addition to other neurological consequences. This calls for a public debate on women’s right to interrupt the pregnancy if they so desire, as an issue of reproductive social justice.
From a public health and human rights perspective, what would be most helpful to women and communities significantly affected by the Zika outbreak is accurate and comprehensive information, and access to rapid diagnosis and counseling on the health risks. Furthermore, there needs to be a massive overhaul in national policies: Safe abortion should be a legal option for women.
Women receiving induced abortions or postabortion care are at high risk of subsequent unintended pregnancy, and intervals of less than six months between abortion and subsequent pregnancy may be associated with adverse outcomes. This study highlights the prevalence and attributes of postabortion contraceptive acceptance from 2,456 health facilities in six major Indian states, among 292,508 women who received abortion care services from July 2011 through June 2014.
Beatriz, a 22-year-old Salvadoran mother with lupus and kidney failure, is pregnant with an anencephalic fetus but continues to be denied a therapeutic abortion by the restrictive law in her country.
Blog post contributed by Dr. Osur to the Women Deliver website in preparation for the 2013 conference in Kuala Lumpur. Ipas is a sponsor of Women Deliver.
Despite Zambia’s relatively progressive abortion law, women continue to seek unsafe, illegal abortions. Four domains of abortion attitudes – support for legalization, immorality, rights, and access to services – were measured in 4 communities.
We need more Americans to speak up about abortion—and to support the advocates, organizations, and decisionmakers working to protect and expand abortion access. That’s why Ipas worked with Eden Stanley, an audience-centered firm, to conduct broad public opinion research. Our findings reveal three priority demographic groups most likely to support organizations and political candidates championing abortion rights. Based on the values and beliefs of these groups, we’ve identified key messaging takeaways. In this brief, we share data and takeaways most relevant for U.S. advocates.
The new WHO recommendations make it painfully clear that, nearly 40 years after Roe v. Wade, we’re doing everything wrong here. Whether it’s gestational limits, ultrasounds, counseling or human rights, nearly every policy proposed by anti-abortion legislators directly contradicts the new WHO guidelines, which are based on years of consultation and discussion, incorporating scientific evidence and international human rights standards.
This study aimed to understand women’s pathways of seeking care for postabortion complications in Madhya Pradesh, India. The study recruited 786 women between July and November 2007.
We need more Americans to speak up about abortion—and to support the advocates, organizations, and decisionmakers working to protect and expand abortion access. That’s why Ipas worked with Eden Stanley, an audience-centered firm, to conduct broad public opinion research. Our findings reveal three priority demographic groups most likely to support organizations and political candidates championing abortion rights. Based on the values and beliefs of these groups, we’ve identified key messaging takeaways. In this brief, we share data and takeaways most relevant for U.S. advocates.
Unsafe abortion is a significant contributor to maternal mortality in Nigeria, and treatment of postabortion complications drains public healthcare resources. Provider estimates of medications, supplies, and staff time spent in 17 public hospitals were used to estimate the per-case and annual costs of postabortion care (PAC) provision in Ogun and Lagos states and the Federal Capital Territory.
We need more Americans to speak up about abortion—and to support the advocates, organizations, and decisionmakers working to protect and expand abortion access. That’s why Ipas worked with Eden Stanley, an audience-centered firm, to conduct broad public opinion research. Our findings reveal three priority demographic groups most likely to support organizations and political candidates championing abortion rights. Based on the values and beliefs of these groups, we’ve identified key messaging takeaways. In this brief, we share data and takeaways most relevant for U.S. advocates.
To address the knowledge gap that exists in costing unsafe abortion in Ethiopia, estimates were derived of the cost to the health system of providing postabortion care (PAC), based on research conducted in 2008.
In order to narrow the gap between the promise and realization of African women’s right to reproductive health care, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted General Comment No. 2 last year, releasing it online earlier this month. The document was drafted under the guidance of Commissioner Soyata Maiga, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, with technical support from the Ipas Africa Alliance and input from numerous reproductive rights and legal experts throughout the region.
Certainly, sharing abortion stories can be a powerful act and may reduce self-stigma. But I fear that it distracts from the structural inequalities of race, poverty, age, and education by placing too much emphasis on the individual. And I worry that it lets our politicians and policymakers off the hook.
This study assesed the severity of abortion complications in Malawi and determined associated risk factors. Between July 20 and September 13, 2009, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at 166 facilities providing postabortion care services.
Because Brazilian law only permits abortion in cases of rape, fetal anencephaly, or risk to life, in 2012 the country’s Ministry of Health reported only 1,626 legal abortions in a nation with 203 million people. However, an estimated one million Brazilian women have abortions every year. Many of those women, particularly those without the financial or social resources to see a well-trained, willing provider, run a huge legal risk when they decide to end an unwanted pregnancy. The physical consequences also can be devastating.
Both Wubalem and Chaltu live only five kilometers from the nearest public health clinic. Under Ethiopian law, both have the right to safe, legal abortion. Yet, because of unnecessarily broad interpretation of U.S. government policy, one was denied this fundamental right.
The nation’s top court is scheduled to meet Monday to review a constitutional challenge to the country’s abortion laws and to other policies that impede women’s access to a full range of human rights. A positive decision would mean that for the first time in 41 years, Bolivian women meeting certain conditions for an abortion would be free from criminal sanctions.
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