October 1, 2024
by Shobha Shukla

Alas! it is not for 45% of women who are not empowered to make choices over their healthcare and contraception needs and choices. Nearly half of the women in 57 developing countries are denied the right to decide whether to have sex with their partners, use contraception or seek healthcare, according to UNFPA’s State of World Population Report. This lack of bodily autonomy- the right to make free and informed decisions about one’s own body, without coercion or violence- has serious implications for the health and wellbeing of women and girls.

We see violations of bodily autonomy when a lack of choice and decision-making leads to unplanned pregnancy, or to unsafe abortion that is a leading, yet totally preventable, cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. As per data, around 73 million induced abortions take place globally each year (majority of which are in the 21-34 age group). 61% of all unplanned pregnancies, and 30% of all pregnancies (planned and unplanned), end in induced abortion. However, around 45% of these abortions are unsafe. More than half of all these unsafe abortions occurred in Asia. In Latin America and Africa, nearly 75% of all abortions were unsafe. The South East Asia region experiences an estimated 3.6 million unsafe abortions annually.

Continued: https://www.dailygoodmorningkashmir.com/my-body-is-it-my-own/#google_vignette