Abortion Number of abortions high in poor countries

Women in developing countries lack access to contraceptives
Fewer and fewer women are losing their pregnancies in the industrialized countries. As a recent study in the journal Lancet shows, the annual rate of abortions between 1990 and 2014 in rich countries dropped from 46 to 27 per 1000 women. In many parts of Africa and Asia, on the other hand, the situation is very different. Especially in countries where there is an abortion ban, there is usually no access to contraceptives or counseling centers. As a result, more unwanted pregnancies occur, which can be stopped by those affected illegally.

Time of parenting can be decided by yourself
Family planning is no problem in this country. Thanks to unrestricted access to modern contraceptives, we can decide for ourselves when and with whom we will have or consciously choose a child. If a woman becomes pregnant unintentionally, under certain conditions, she can have her aborted. Because until the end of the twelfth week of pregnancy remains this according to Article 218 StGB under certain conditions, impunity. Duty is, however, a prior consultation with a gynecologist or contact points such as Pro Familia or the German Red Cross. Even after the end of the twelfth week, termination is possible under certain circumstances. These include e.g. an existing mortal danger to the woman or a pregnancy after a sex crime.

For many women in developing countries, illegal abortions are the only way to end an unwanted pregnancy. (Image: unlimit3d / fotolia.com)

The situation looks similar in the other countries of Western and Northern Europe or in the USA; here as well, the decision on pro or con parenting can largely be taken by itself. This is reflected in the number of abortions: Between 1990 and 2014, the rate of abortions in the industrialized countries decreased from 46 percent to 27 percent per 1,000 women, according to the study published in The Lancet. The decline in abortions in Eastern Europe was particularly strong, with the rate falling from 88 to 42 out of every 1,000 women of reproductive age between 15 and 44 years.

Cancellations are usually prohibited
In many poorer countries in Africa or Asia, on the other hand, the situation is very different. People usually can not decide for themselves whether or when they want to have a child. Instead, access to contraceptives is denied, there is insufficient medical care and abortions are usually prohibited. But despite some very strict laws, many women apparently can not stop it, but are looking for ways to stop an unwanted pregnancy.

As the team of researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO), the private Guttmacher Institute for Reproductive Medicine and various universities has found in his study, the number of abortions in developing countries is even higher than in richer nations. According to the report, the rate of demolitions in the western states has declined significantly since 1990 - but not in the developing countries. According to the study, the overall rate fell only minimally from 39 to 37 out of 1,000 women per year. In some areas, the number of crashes actually increased, notably in Latin America and the Caribbean (from 23% to 32%), but also in South and Central Asia (from 17% to 25%) and Southern Africa (from 17%) 24%).

Women can not prevent unwanted pregnancies
The largest proportion of unwanted pregnancies affects those who have no access to modern contraceptives such as Pill or spiral and would abort the child in a row, write the scientists around Dr. Gilda Sedgh from the Guttmacher Institute in New York. "High rates of abortion are directly correlated with a high level of unmet need for contraceptives. Our results show that women in many developing regions lack contraceptives and are therefore unable to prevent unwanted pregnancies, "said the lead author of the study, Dr. med. Sedgh according to a statement from the institute.

Strict laws promote illegal abortions
"Abortions are not prevented by criminalizing them - rather, women are led to use illegal services or methods," warned Diana Greene Forster of the University of California in a commentary to the study. In their opinion, a simple procedure to reduce the number of abortions could help: demographers would have to identify the regions where many women live who do not want to become pregnant but do not have access to contraception. If these are known, the situation on the ground would have to be changed. "Ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health could help millions of women avoid unwanted pregnancies and ensure access to safe abortion," the researchers said in their article. (No)