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Jeff Bernson, MPA, MPH, International Health Group, Chemonics International Inc, 1133 20th St., NW, Washington, DC, DC 20036 and Kuhu Maitra, MBBS, DCH, MD, International Health Group., Chemonics International Inc, 1133 20th St., NW, Washington, DC, DC 20036, 202-955-3340, kmaitra@chemonics.net.
With more than five million unsafe abortions taking place in Africa each year, women of the continent face the highest risk of death from abortion-related complications in the world. As iterated by The Programme of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development adolescent women in particular suffer as a consequence of inadequate abortion care. It is estimated that 8 in 10 young women in Sub-Saharan Africa have had first intercourse before age 20; 4 in 10 before marriage. These high rates of sexual activity are associated with a variety of risks which include unwanted pregnancy and unsafe or induced abortion. This research project analyzes existing policy studies and statistical information available through Demographic and Health surveys in Kenya (2001), and Tanzania(2002). The areas of focus include three key areas: knowledge and information of abortion policy, adolescent health Care Access, and quality of care. Although recent policies of these two countries have expanded, abortion remains difficult to access and infrastructure remains inadequate. Specific recommendations and next steps that each government and health system can follow focus on ensuring that pregnant youth can have access to abortion services that are protect basic legal rights and of maintain agreed upon standards of quality and care.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Access and Services
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.