The Medical and Financial Burden of Illegal Abortion

Rodriguez, Grecia Rivera; Acosta, Jean Tamayo; Gomez, Ariel E Sosa; Rodriguez, Rosymar E Marcucci; Cintron, Gissete A Rodriguez; Véliz, Marjorie Acosta

doi:10.7759/cureus.30514

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 15 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…8 From a financial lens, complications of unsafe abortion need prompt medical attention which women with low socioeconomic status are somewhat deprived from in developing countries. This financial handicap leads to delay in intervention and puts the family under pressure hence, accounts for increased family debts and risk of maternal death 10 . Psychological effects are also identified as an integral effect of unsafe abortion such as posttraumatic stress disorder.…”

Section: Consequences Of Unsafe Abortionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unsafe abortion; the hidden cause of maternal death

Kubuka,

Abdulrahman,

Soa

et al. 2023

IJFCM

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Despite the advancements in medical technology, unsafe abortion is common worldwide and it is estimated that about 13% of maternal deaths occur each year due to unsafe abortion predominantly in developing countries. However, since 1990, substantial global progress has been made to address various causes of maternal death including severe bleeding, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and obstructed labor. On the contrary there has been minimal efforts in addressing the risks associated with unsafe abortion though highly preventable. The high prevalence is owed to a lack of awareness on safe abortion practices, desire for educational pursuit and poor use of contraceptives that lead to unplanned pregnancy. In attempting unsafe abortion, early health complications such as infection, hemorrhage, injury to internal organs, infertility and post abortion stress disorders are seen as long-term complications. Thus, mass education on contraceptives is highly needed to protect mothers from death due to unsafe abortion.

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Section: Consequences Of Unsafe Abortionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unsafe abortion; the hidden cause of maternal death

Kubuka,

Abdulrahman,

Soa

et al. 2023

IJFCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“I wasn’t sure it would work. I was just trying”: an ethnographic study on the choice of abortion methods among young women in Kilifi County, Kenya, and Atlantique Department, Benin

Omondi,

Both,

Ouedraogo

et al. 2023

Reprod Health

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Background Despite the increased availability of safe abortion methods in sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls continue to use unsafe abortion methods and procedures to terminate their unwanted pregnancies, resulting in severe complications, lifelong disabilities, and death. Barriers to safe abortion methods include restrictive laws, low awareness of safe abortion methods, poverty, and sociocultural and health system barriers. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of data on the decision-making around and use of abortion methods. This paper aims to provide answers to the following questions: Which abortion methods do women and girls use and why? Who and what influences their decisions? What can we learn from their decision-making process to enhance the uptake of safe abortion methods? We focus our in-depth analysis on the rationale behind the choice of abortion methods used by women and girls in Kilifi County in Kenya and Atlantique Department in Benin. Methods We draw on data collected as part of an ethnographic study conducted between January and August 2021 on lived experiences, social determinants, and pathways to abortion. Data were collected using repeated in-depth interviews with 95 girls and women who had a recent abortion experience. Data from the interviews were supplemented using information from key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation. Data analysis was conducted through an inductive process. Results Our findings reveal that women and girls use various methods to procure abortions, including herbs, high doses of pharmaceutical drugs, homemade concoctions, medical abortion drugs, and surgical abortion methods. Procedures may involve singular or multiple attempts, and sometimes, mixing several methods to achieve the goal of pregnancy termination. The use of various abortion methods is mainly driven by the pursuit of social safety (preservation of secrecy and social relationships, avoidance of shame and stigmatization) instead of medical safety (which implies technical safety and quality). Conclusion Our findings reaffirm the need for comprehensive access to, and availability of, abortion-related information and services, especially safe abortion and post-abortion care services that emphasize both medical and social safety.

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The Medical and Financial Burden of Illegal Abortion

Cited by 2 publications

References 15 publications

Unsafe abortion; the hidden cause of maternal death

Unsafe abortion; the hidden cause of maternal death

“I wasn’t sure it would work. I was just trying”: an ethnographic study on the choice of abortion methods among young women in Kilifi County, Kenya, and Atlantique Department, Benin

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