title: Ray of hope: opportunities for reducing unsafe abortions!
abstract: Unsafe abortion is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity which impede the nation in achieving the targets of MDG 5. In the developing world, it is estimated that 13% of all maternal deaths are due to unsafe abortions. Despite having certain liberty in the law and religion, Pakistan has a relatively high prevalence of unsafe abortion. Poverty, unintended pregnancies, ineffective use of contraceptive methods and unawareness about the law are the root causes for the rise in the number of women seeking abortions. Nonetheless, with all these opening points of having permission in the law and religion could direct us that if we just follow them we can reduce the number of unsafe and illegal abortions.Therefore, there is a strong interventions would be required in health and legal aspects, which would decrease maternal mortality and morbidity.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. shaneela.khowaja@aku.edu
authors.forename: Shaneela Sadruddin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Khowaja
authors.forename: Aneeta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: Shamshad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: Mehr-un-Nisa
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Mustafa
mesh_terms: D000024:Abortion, Illegal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D011247:Pregnancy