The World Health Organization defines unsafe abortion as a procedure for terminating a pregnancy that is performed by an individual lacking the necessary skills, or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards, or both. Unsafe abortion is common in places where abortion is illegal. Every year almost 44,000 abortions occur globally and nearly half of them are unsafe whereby almost all unsafe abortions (98 percent) are happening in developing Countries.
In Countries where abortion remains unsafe, it is a leading cause of maternal mortality. According to the WHO unsafe abortions contribute to 13% of all maternal mortality globally and are direct cause of maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. When comparing women with their counterpart men in Sexual and Reproductive Health, there is no such a high cause of mortality in men. This difference shows the existent gender inequality in most developing Countries.
In these settings women are denied access to information, education on safe sex, contraception and are not offered an informed consent on their fertility choices. Gender based violence is one of the contributing factor to this inequality that women suffer and this affect their potential development and enjoyment of their right to health including their right to Sexual and Reproductive Health. These universal rights legitimate women to choose whether to conceive or when to form a family. This should have not been difficult to achieve in a World with so much technologies of modern effective contraceptive methods. And the issue of unsafe abortion and its complications could be averted.
Conversely this is not the case in the context where legal structures should determine the fate of those who should make decisions for their own lives. The legalization or non-legalization of termination of pregnancy has been a battle ground for Centuries in many Countries across the Globe with different variations in the trends of abortion legal frameworks. In this essay, I will discuss why unsafe abortion is perceived as neglected globally and evaluate the extent to which human rights-based approach can be useful to mitigate this public health problem and conclude with my personal view on this issue.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Why and how unsafe abortion is neglected
3. Rights-based approach to mitigate unsafe abortion
4. Conclusion
Objectives & Topics
This essay explores the global neglect of the public health crisis of unsafe abortion, examining how socio-political, cultural, and legal factors contribute to its persistence, and evaluates the potential of a human rights-based approach to address these systemic failures.
- Analysis of legal frameworks and their impact on abortion safety
- Examination of the socio-cultural barriers and stigmatization of abortion
- Evaluation of the human rights-based approach as a mitigation strategy
- Assessment of the role of health systems and provider attitudes
- Discussion of gender inequality as a structural determinant of unsafe abortion
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
The World Health Organization (1992) defines unsafe abortion as a procedure for terminating a pregnancy that is performed by an individual lacking the necessary skills, or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards, or both. Unsafe abortion is common in places where abortion is illegal. Every year almost 44,000 abortions occur globally and nearly half of them are unsafe whereby almost all unsafe abortions (98 percent) are happening in developing Countries. In Countries where abortion remains unsafe, it is a leading cause of maternal mortality. According to the WHO (2010) unsafe abortions contribute to 13% of all maternal mortality globally and are direct cause of maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. When comparing women with their counterpart men in Sexual and Reproductive Health, there is no such a high cause of mortality in men. This difference shows the existent gender inequality in most developing Countries. In these settings women are denied access to information, education on safe sex, contraception and are not offered an informed consent on their fertility choices. (Leila, H., 2005). Gender based violence is one of the contributing factor to this inequality that women suffer and this affect their potential development and enjoyment of their right to health including their right to Sexual and Reproductive Health. These universal rights legitimate women to choose whether to conceive or when to form a family. This should have not been difficult to achieve in a World with so much technologies of modern effective contraceptive methods. And the issue of unsafe abortion and its complications could be averted. Conversely this is not the case in the context where legal structures should determine the fate of those who should make decisions for their own lives. The legalization or non-legalization of termination of pregnancy has been a battle ground for Centuries in many Countries across the Globe with different variations in the trends of abortion legal frameworks.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Defines the scope of unsafe abortion as a critical global public health issue and outlines the essay's goal to evaluate the human rights-based approach as a potential solution.
2. Why and how unsafe abortion is neglected: Investigates the structural, political, and socio-cultural barriers that lead to the neglect of safe abortion services, highlighting the gap between de jure and de facto access.
3. Rights-based approach to mitigate unsafe abortion: Discusses the application of human rights principles to counteract maternal mortality and argues for an enabling environment that prioritizes women's rights.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the necessity of moving beyond restrictive policies toward a stakeholder-engaged, rights-based system that integrates comprehensive post-abortion care and women's empowerment.
Keywords
Unsafe abortion, maternal mortality, human rights, reproductive health, gender inequality, public health, legal frameworks, stigmatization, health systems, contraception, policy reform, Sub-Saharan Africa, women's empowerment, advocacy, medical standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this essay?
The essay addresses the global public health crisis of unsafe abortion, examining why it is neglected and how applying a human rights-based approach can mitigate its prevalence and impact on maternal mortality.
What are the primary themes discussed in the text?
Key themes include gender inequality, the discrepancy between legal and practical access to safe abortion, the influence of personal and religious beliefs on healthcare provision, and the necessity of policy reform.
What is the main goal or research question?
The goal is to evaluate whether and to what extent a human rights-based approach can effectively address the complex problem of unsafe abortion in developing countries.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The work employs a literature review and analysis of international reports, treaties, and public health guidelines to synthesize current challenges and propose rights-based solutions.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The body chapters cover global abortion statistics, the impact of restrictive laws, the influence of stigma and socio-cultural factors, and the seven pillars of the human rights-based approach to health.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The core keywords include Unsafe abortion, maternal mortality, human rights, reproductive health, and gender inequality.
How does the author characterize the difference between liberal law and actual accessibility?
The author highlights a frequent gap between 'de jure' (what the law says) and 'de facto' (the actual application/accessibility) reality, noting that even countries with liberal laws may fail to provide adequate services due to systemic barriers.
What role do healthcare providers play in this context according to the author?
Providers are described as crucial gatekeepers whose personal religious or moral beliefs can impede or facilitate care; the author argues that they should have a professional duty to provide care or ensure effective referrals.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr Leonard Kabongo (Autor), 2015, Safe Abortion. Way forwards on one of the neglected Sexual and Reproductive Health issue, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/305674
