African Health Ministers Calling For Safe Abortion Legislation

Lagos, Nigeria (AHN) – Health Ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are calling for member states to pass safe abortion legislation. The effort is an attempt reduce the high maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the sub-region.

In a statement the ministers said that the abortion laws should reflect the social context of the respective ECOWAS member states. Health officials deem unsafe abortion practices as one of the reasons for high MMR. Officials say that abortion laws would reduce pregnancy-related death among women.

Involving men in family planning interventions is another strategy health ministers want to see implemented for the region.

Complications of induced abortion account for nearly one-third of all maternal deaths in West Africa.

Researchers suggest that “previous [World Health Organization] estimates that complications of abortion may account for about 15 percent of all maternal mortality should be revised upward.”

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