Breaking the taboo Real access to safe abortions requires more than legalisation

Most government reports and surveys on maternal health echo Nepal’s achievement of reducing Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).

Indeed, the MMR statistical leap is remarkable: In 1996, an MMR of 539 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births was reported. The number was reduced to 281 by 2006, representing a decline of 48 percent over a period of ten years.

In September 2010, Nepal became the recipient of a UN Award from among 49 least developed countries for the significant MMR reduction and subsequent contribution towards achieving UN Millennium Development Goal 5, which aims to improve maternal health by reducing the MMR by three quarters and achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015.

Health experts and government officials agree that the reduction of the MMR is the outcome of coordinated efforts in executing various targeted programmes and projects by governmental and non-governmental organisations. Since Nepal’s notable slashing, almost in half, of the MMR, has coincided with the period when abortion was legalised in Nepal, many health sector stakeholders have linked the achievement to abortion policy reform.

According to a World Health Organisation estimate, more than 19 million abortions carried out annually across the globe are unsafe and between one and five of every 10 women undergoing these abortions requires medical care for severe complications later. Of them, more than 68,000 die each year. Studies have indicated that unsafe abortion predominantly exists in those countries of Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia where abortion is illegal as well as in those where it is legal but safe services are inadequate. Although we cannot ascertain as to how many of the nearly 200 women dying every day worldwide comprise our Nepali sisters (given the lack of exact nationwide data) it is clear that we are still very much walking on the edge. Read more >>

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com