title: Contribution of obstetrics and gynecology societies in West and Central African countries to the prevention of unsafe abortion.
abstract: Unsafe abortion is a major public health issue in low-resource countries. In the countries of West and Central Africa, abortion-related maternal mortality rates are extremely high, the prevalence of modern contraceptive use is very low, and the unmet need for family planning is also high. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and its Consequences has contributed substantially toward increasing awareness of the problem of abortion, bringing abortion-related issues to the attention of the professional societies, individual gynecologists and obstetricians, Ministries of Health, healthcare providers, and to the community in general. The promotion of quality postabortion care including the use of manual vacuum aspiration, misoprostol, and postabortion contraception has greatly improved access to services; however, there is still a long way to go.
authors.affiliation: Central Maternity Hospital Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address: robertjleker@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Robert J I
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Leke
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000592:standards*; D000350:Africa, Central; D000354:Africa, Western; D000359:Aftercare / Q000592:standards; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007391:International Cooperation; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014619:Vacuum Curettage / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol
keywords: FIGO initiative; Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC); Prevention; Strategies for prevention; Unsafe abortion; West and Central Africa