Estimates of the Potential Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Estimates of the Potential Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

By Taylor Riley, Elizabeth Sully, Zara Ahmed and Ann Biddlecom
April 16, 2020

Researchers at the Guttmacher Institute used data from 132 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—covering 1.6 billion women of reproductive age (15–49)—to estimate how sexual and reproductive health outcomes could change following only a modest decline of 10% in access to care. This includes theorizing a decline in access to contraceptives and abortion among other scenarios.

The implications are staggering in terms of the number of people whose needs would be left unserved, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and maternal and newborn deaths.

Continued: https://mailchi.mp/guttmacher/covid-19-global-reproductive-health-938557?e=c5ebd08685

USA – The Real Challenges of Exercising the Right to an Abortion—and What You Can Do About It

The Real Challenges of Exercising the Right to an Abortion—and What You Can Do About It

2/27/2020
by Carole Joffe and David S. Cohen

For almost half a century, every American woman has had the constitutional right to an abortion.

But—as U.C. San Francisco sociologist Carole Joffe and Drexel law professor David S. Cohen show in their new book, Obstacle Course: The Everyday Struggle to Get an Abortion in America—the reality of exercising one’s reproductive rights is riddled with hurdles designed by anti-abortion activists and politicians.

Continued: https://msmagazine.com/2020/02/27/the-real-challenges-of-exercising-the-right-to-an-abortion-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/

27.02.2020

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Obstacle Course: The Everyday Struggle to Get an Abortion in America

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Colombia’s Upcoming Abortion Ruling Could Have A Big Impact On Latin America

Colombia's Upcoming Abortion Ruling Could Have A Big Impact On Latin America

By Tim Padgett
Feb 17, 2020

Colombia’s highest court is about to issue a ruling that could return the country to a total ban on abortion – or bring it in line with Roe v. Wade, the decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. Either way, because Colombia is one of the region's largest and more culturally influential countries, the decision could have a profound effect on abortion rights in Latin America.

The region already has some of the world’s strictest abortion laws – and now people on both sides of the debate hope a recent – and admittedly unusual – case will affirm their agendas.

Continued: https://www.wlrn.org/post/colombias-upcoming-abortion-ruling-could-have-big-impact-latin-america#stream/0

Research Supports Advocating for Safe Abortion

Research Supports Advocating for Safe Abortion
New research in ten countries reveals the challenges and opportunities for FIGO National Member Societies to advocate for safe abortion.

29.01.2020
FIGO

Each year, 25 million women and girls around the world undergo unsafe abortions, contributing to an estimated 13 percent of maternal mortality and resulting in long term injuries and infertility for millions more. These figures are unacceptably high and represent an avoidable, but often neglected, public health and women’s rights issue.

FIGO’s Advocating for Safe Abortion Project is supporting ten National Member Societies in Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Panama, Peru, Uganda and Zambia to advocate for safe abortion to the full extent of the law in their national contexts.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/research-supports-advocating-safe-abortion-0016316

International Safe Abortion Day: The real cost of illegal abortions

International Safe Abortion Day: The real cost of illegal abortions
This International Safe Abortion Day, Marie Stopes South Africa is calling for safe abortion services and care to be made available to every woman who wants it worldwide.

September 27, 2019

Across the globe, there are still 214 million women who currently have no reliable way of preventing an unintended pregnancy that could make them poorer, push their dreams beyond their reach forever, or threaten their health and life.

We’ve seen the transformational potential of family planning, and the positive changes that can happen in a woman’s life when she has control over her body and future. Contraception and safe abortion supports women to delay first pregnancy, space their pregnancies and avoid unsafe abortion, greatly reducing their risk of dying in pregnancy or childbirth.

Continued: https://www.all4women.co.za/1852843/health/womens-health/international-safe-abortion-day-the-real-cost-of-illegal-abortions

27.09.2019

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Canada – Abortion is constitutional right and, unfortunately, an election issue

Abortion is constitutional right and, unfortunately, an election issue

Jennifer Taylor argues Canadians can’t trust the Tory leader on his promise to avert the anti-abortion movement
Abortion is constitutional right and, unfortunately, an election issue

By Jennifer Taylor
OPINION 23 Sep 2019

It’s been 50 years since abortion was partly decriminalized in Canada, and 31 years since R v Morgentaler, the Supreme Court of Canada decision that struck down the remaining Criminal Code restrictions. Surely, in 2019, Canadians have accepted that there is a constitutional right to abortion access in this country, and abortion is a publicly funded health care service – not a subject for debate. We’ve moved on. Right?

Unfortunately, not.

Continued: https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion/abortion-is-constitutional-right-and-unfortunately-an-election-issue/304370

India – 5,80,100 abortions performed in Assam every year: Report

5,80,100 abortions performed in Assam every year: Report
An estimated 90% of the abortions occurring in health facilities in the State are surgical, while about 10% are done using Medical Methods of Abortion.

By Bikash Singh
Aug 20, 2019

GUWAHATI: The study on ‘Unintended Pregnancy, Abortion and Postabortion Care in Assam—2015’ conducted jointly by Indian Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, Population Council, New Delhi and New York-based Guttmacher Institute, highlights the importance of access to and quality of safe abortion services in the State.

The study found that an estimated 5,80,100 abortions are performed in Assam every year. These include abortions taking place both in health facilities and in other settings. The State’s abortion rate was found to be 66 terminations per 1,000 women in the reproductive age group.

Continued: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/580100-abortions-performed-in-assam-every-year-report/articleshow/70751757.cms

20.08.2019

private abortion facilities

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Cape Breton women still face barriers and stigma when seeking an abortion

Cape Breton women still face barriers and stigma when seeking an abortion
Many family doctors still don't prescribe so-called abortion pill

Brittany Wentzell - CBC
Aug 8, 2019

There may be less red tape surrounding the so-called abortion pill, but many women in Cape Breton will still make the lengthy drive to Halifax if they want to terminate a pregnancy.

The issue, according to advocates, is the reluctance of many family doctors on the island to prescribe Mifegymiso — the brand name for the combination of two pills used to end a pregnancy of up to nine weeks.

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5234425

Canada – The pro-choice movement will defeat any threats to abortion rights

The pro-choice movement will defeat any threats to abortion rights

Joyce Arthur
August 8, 2019

Canada's pro-choice movement is in good fighting form, and stronger than ever. That's the undeniable conclusion after living through the roller-coaster ride of anti-choice activity over the last three months.

First, we saw the annual March for Life on Ottawa's Parliament Hill on May 9, as well as anti-choice rallies in cities across Canada including Toronto for the first time. Many anti-choice Parliamentarians attended these events and some spoke out, including Ontario MPP Sam Oosterhoff, with his infamous comment, "We pledge to make abortion unthinkable in our lifetime."

Continued: http://rabble.ca/columnists/2019/08/pro-choice-movement-will-defeat-any-threats-abortion-rights

Kenya – Guidelines can stop unnecessary abortion deaths

Guidelines can stop unnecessary abortion deaths
Unsafe abortions could be one of the main causes of maternal mortality in Kenya.

By GEORGE MORARA
July 11, 2019

In April 2012, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights released a report on the status of sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Kenya. This was the result of a public inquiry following a complaint by the Federation of Women Lawyers and the Centre for Reproductive Rights that, despite having in place a progressive legal and policy framework, women and girls still face sexual and reproductive health violations.

ARBITRARILY DRAWN

The KNCHR cited several barriers that impede access to quality sexual and reproductive health services — including unavailability of abortion and post-abortion services, lack of accurate and comprehensive information and high cost of services.

Continued: https://mobile.nation.co.ke/blogs/Guidelines-can-stop-unnecessary-abortion-deaths/1949942-5192566-ck62ik/index.html