Each year, almost half of all pregnancies – 121 million – are unintended, and six out of ten unintended pregnancies end in induced abortion. When an unsafe abortion is carried out to terminate a pregnancy, there can be devastating and long-term physiological, financial, and emotional costs to the woman and her family, as well as to her community at large.
A negative impact on women’s health and well-being
Physical complications of unsafe abortion include hemorrhage (heavy bleeding), infection, sepsis, peritonitis, and trauma to the cervix, vagina, uterus, and abdominal organs. One in four women who undergo an unsafe abortion is likely to develop temporary or lifelong disability requiring medical care.
A cause for maternal deaths
Between 4.7% and 13.2% of all maternal deaths can be attributed to unsafe abortion. Mortality from unsafe abortion is much higher in developing regions, and in particular, disproportionately affects women in Africa.
A financial burden for women, communities and health systems
The financial cost for treating complications of unsafe abortion is substantial. Estimates from 2006 show that, in developing countries, the yearly cost for health systems include:
- US$ 553 million for treating complications from unsafe abortion
- US$ 6 billion for treating post-abortion infertility
- A need for an additional US$ 373 million, if unmet needs for treating complications from unsafe abortion were to be met.
Unsafe abortion can also lead to short- and long-term financial costs for women and ultimately entire families and communities.
Annual cost estimates for developing countries include:
- US$ 200 million in out-of-pocket expenses of individuals and households, for the treatment of post-abortion complications, in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
- US$ 922 million in loss of income as a result of long-term disability, due to infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease caused by unsafe abortion.
Abortion
Every individual has the right to decide freely and responsibly – without discrimination, coercion and violence – the number, spacing and timing of their children, and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health (ICPD 1994).
Access to legal, safe and comprehensive abortion care, including post-abortion care, is essential for the attainment of the highest possible level of sexual and reproductive health.
Three out of ten of all pregnancies end in induced abortion. Nearly half of all abortions are unsafe, and almost all of these unsafe abortions take place in developing countries.
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