Abortion & post-abortion care
A recent study on women’s reproductive health “Safeguarding Women’s Health: Trends, Inequities, and Opportunities in Pakistan’s Abortion and Post-Abortion Care Services” carried out by Population Council in partnership with the Guttmacher Institute, has highlighted the urgent state of women’s reproductive health in Pakistan with a focus on abortion and post-abortion care.
While speaking at the launching ceremony of the study here Wednesday, PM’s Coordinator on National Health Services, Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath assured the participants that the government was fully committed to enhancing healthcare access, especially for women in marginalized and underserved regions.
“We are working towards a system where every woman can receive the healthcare she needs, when she needs it, free from stigma or fear,” stated DrMukhtar.
The event unveiled findings from a comprehensive national study by the Population Council and it was pointed out that with maternal mortality at 186 deaths per 100,000 live births there was a pressing need for comprehensive reforms in reproductive healthcare.
The women’s health study is the third in a series of national assessments following similar studies in 2002 and 2012. It comes at a pivotal time as Pakistan grapples with significant reproductive health challenges. The study reveals that 66 women of reproductive age (15-49) per 1,000 had an induced abortion annually in 2023. Moreover, 21-30pc of women who underwent an abortion still faced complications, indicating serious gaps in care and safety while the rate of abortion-related complications has declined from 13.9 per 1,000 women in 2012 to 11.7 per 1,000 in 2023, significant inequalities remain. The study found that rural poor women are more likely to suffer from complications compared to wealthier women and those living in urban areas.
The study is a major eye-opener when the country’s inter-censal population growth rate is recorded at 2.55% per annum, with contraceptive use stagnating. Moreover, 17.3pc of women report an unmet need for family planning, contributing to high rates of unintended pregnancies, many of which result in unsafe abortions.
Country Director Population Council, Dr. ZebaSathar while speaking on the occasion emphasized: “Pakistan has made strides in improving healthcare, but the report reminds us that there is still much work to be done, especially in ensuring women have access to family planning and safe reproductive health services”. She also emphasized women empowerment through access to family planning and safe healthcare services is fundamental in achieving broader social and economic goals, contributing to a more just and equitable society.
