IPAS, an international organization on sexual and reproductive health and rights, on Tuesday said 44 percent of the world's maternal deaths from unsafe abortions occur in Africa.

"More than four million unsafe abortions are estimated to take place in Africa every year, killing 34,000 women and girls," said Ejike Oji, director of IPAS country office in Nigeria.

He said unsafe abortions contributed significantly to the high maternal death ratio in Nigeria, the most populous African country with a population of over 138 million.

"At an estimated 800 deaths per 100,000 live births, Nigeria is one of the highest in the world," he added.

Oji announced that majority of the abortions were performed under unsafe conditions, noting that more than 140,000 of such cases resulted in hospitalization arising from complications.

He observed that restrictive laws that only allowed termination of pregnancy to save the lives of women contributed to the high rate of unsafe abortion in the country.

"Furthermore, social stigma and political pressure render many health-care providers unwilling to offer abortion services even within limits of the law," he stressed.

He disclosed that reproductive health networks and partners had increased the advocacy for a reformed abortion law to include legal indications, such as rape, incest and protection of the health of women.

The director listed reproductive partners to include members of Medical Women Associations, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), NAWOJ and Civil Societies Organizations (CSOs).

According to him, the objectives of IPAS include prevention of unsafe abortion, improvement in treatment of its complications and reduction of its consequences, empowerment of women by increasing access to services that enhance their reproductive and sexual health and rights.

Source: Xinhua