Abortion and Postabortion Care In Uganda: A Report from Health Care Professionals and Health Facilities
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Date
2005
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Occasional Report
Abstract
Women in Uganda today give birth to almost seven
children, on average—two more children than they
would prefer. In fact, nearly 40% of all births in 2000
were unwanted or mistimed, up from 29% of births
only five years earlier. Only 23% of married women
were using contraceptives in 2000, although this proportion
was about five times that in 1988. Given such
facts about the gap between their desired family size
and their actual fertility, as well as their low likelihood
of using contraceptives, it is not surprising that many
women turn to abortion.
Abortion is illegal in Uganda unless a woman’s
pregnancy endangers her life. As a result, the procedure
is performed in secrecy and often under dangerous conditions.
There are no official statistics even on abortion
complications, but what data are available indicate that
unsafe abortion in Uganda is a leading cause of maternal
morbidity and mortality.
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Citation
Prada, E., Mirembe, F., Ahmed, F. H., Nalwadda, R., & Kiggundu, C. (2005). Abortion and postabortion care in Uganda: a report from health care professionals and health facilities. Occasional Report, 17.