Induced Abortion in sub-Saharan Africa: What We Do and Do Not Know

The first step in addressing the growing public health problem of abortion in sub-Saharan Africa is to gain a better understanding of the problem and its complexities. Abortion behavior is inextricably connected with issues of women's roles and opportunities, and until the various dimensions of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in family planning 1988-05, Vol.19 (3), p.186-190
Main Author: Coeytaux, Francine M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion, Induced - economics
Abortion, Induced - mortality
Adolescents
Africa, Northern
Age Factors
Birth control
Commentary
Family planning
Female
Funding
Hospital admissions
Humans
Induced abortion
Marriage
Mortality
Obstetrics
Population
Pregnancy
Socioeconomics
Teaching hospitals
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Summary:The first step in addressing the growing public health problem of abortion in sub-Saharan Africa is to gain a better understanding of the problem and its complexities. Abortion behavior is inextricably connected with issues of women's roles and opportunities, and until the various dimensions of abortion behavior and its socioeconomic context are understood, governments will have difficulty addressing the problem effectively. In addition, abortion needs to be studied within the broader framework of reproductive health. In a continent where fertility is highly valued and infertility prevalent, the interaction between abortion, practice of contraception, and fears of infertility must be fully understood if we are to have any hope of reducing the numbers of unwanted pregnancies and the morbidity and mortality caused by induced abortion.
ISSN:0039-3665
1728-4465
DOI:10.2307/1966754