The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated challenges and complexities around sexual reproductive health and rights.[1] This includes access to safe abortion;[2] its affordability, quality of related care and whether its free of stigma.[3] Socio-economic conditions including poverty, literacy, means of livelihood and service delivery all contribute towards the need for abortion services,[4] safe or not.[5] International Safe Abortion Day (ISAD) allows for reflection on trends, challenges, and possible solutions at global, regional and national levels.
Commemorated first in Latin America in 1990 and globally in since 2011;[6] the global gag rule,[7] conscientious objection and politcisation of reproductive rights are some of the overarching influences of governance and policy making on safe abortion. The multistakeholder dialogue provides an opportunity to illuminate the rights, welfare, and access for safe abortion for women in their diversity. Most notably, this year’s theme is under the auspices of ‘Make Unsafe Abortion History’.
Approximately 45% of all abortions globally were unsafe.[8] Developing country health systems incurred almost USD 6.9 billion in costs related to unsafe abortion related care.[9] This reflects avoidable and preventable economic implications in environments that do not allow for safe abortion without restriction. Situating these economic implications in Botswana, further builds a case for reducing or redirecting public spending towards more investments in holistic family planning, comprehensive sex education and addressing socio-economic complexities[10]. The latter includes Botswana’s ranking as the 4th most unequal country from 104 by Gini coefficient[11] and 2nd highest in reported rape incidents[12] per capita.
These structural complexities are further compounded by harmful gender norms, religious influence, societal perceptions, and limited knowledge on reproductive health. ISAD provides an opportunity to build on the recent review on unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion in Botswana hosted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, UNFPA and WHO. Further, link community experiences documented under the auspices of Bodily Autonomy and Integrity and link with recent developments around period dignity, policy engagement and the upcoming Constitutional Review.
Success Capital Organisation, with the support of AIDS Foundation South Africa, presents a documentary series including storytelling, key stakeholder and community insights on unsafe abortion in Botswana. Below is a highlights clip screened at the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Strategic Assessment on Unintended Pregnancies, Contraception and Unsafe Abortion in Botswana, 07-08 July 2021.
Full Episode Listing HERE.
References:
[1] https://successcapital.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Questionnaire_SRHRs-crisis_EN-Success-Capital-Responses.pdf
[2] https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/news/international-safe-abortion-day-28-september-2021-first-call-to-action/
[3] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preventing-unsafe-abortion
[4] https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-019-0759-5
[5] https://successcapital.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Decriminalisation-Policy-Brief-1.pdf
[6] https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/what-we-do/28-september-international-safe-abortion-day/
[7] https://successcapital.africa/news/global-gag-rule-compromise-and-denial-of-dignity/
[8] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preventing-unsafe-abortion
[9] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preventing-unsafe-abortion
[10] https://successcapital.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Decriminalisation-Policy-Brief-Overview-of-Consultation.pdf
[11] https://www.sundaystandard.info/the-paradox-of-botswanas-strong-economic-growth-versus-rising-income-inequality/
[12] https://botswana.unfpa.org/en/news/much-more-needs-be-done-ending-gender-based-violence-botswana