Midlevel health-care providers can provide safe abortion services
March 2011 - A multicentre trial in Nepal showed that, where permitted by law, appropriately trained midlevel health-care providers can provide safe, low-technology medical abortion services for women independently from doctors. Task-shifting to midlevel health-care providers and upgrading of their skills to provide safer care in pregnancy and reproductive health could be key to achieving MDG 5.
Unsafe abortion: Estimates and prevention
Unsafe abortion and deaths due to complications of unsafe abortion continue to afflict the lives of many women, mostly in developing countries. Unsafe abortion is the cause of serious complications and disability for millions of women each year and is a prominent cause of maternal death. Despite efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goal 5 Target 5A – reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio between 1990 and 2015 – the percentage of maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion remains unchanged at 13%.
New estimates and trends regarding unsafe abortion mortality
31 August 2011- Important gains have been made in reducing maternal deaths attributable to unsafe abortion. However, 1 in 8 maternal deaths globally and 1 in 5 maternal deaths in Eastern Africa continue to be attributable to unsafe abortion. Averting these preventable deaths can contribute to achieving Millennium Development Goal number 5 of improving maternal health.