Induced abortion: estimated rates and trends worldwide
Abstract
Background Information on incidence of induced abortion is crucial for identifying policy and programmatic needs aimed at reducing unintended pregnancy. Because unsafe abortion is a cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, measures of its incidence are also important for monitoring progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5. We present new worldwide estimates of abortion rates and trends and discuss their implications for policies and programmes to reduce unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion and to increase access to safe abortion. Methods The worldwide and regional incidences of safe abortions in 2003 were calculated by use of reports from official national reporting systems, nationally representative surveys, and published studies. Unsafe abortion rates in 2003 were estimated from hospital data, surveys, and other published studies. Demographic techniques were applied to estimate numbers of abortions and to calculate rates and ratios for 2003. UN estimates of female populations and livebirths were the source for denominators for rates and ratios, respectively. Regions are defined according to UN classifications. Trends in abortion rates and incidences between 1995 and 2003 are presented. Findings An estimated 42 million abortions were induced in 2003, compared with 46 million in 1995. The induced abortion rate in 2003 was 29 per 1000 women aged 15-44 years, down from 35 in 1995. Abortion rates were lowest in western Europe (12 per 1000 women). Rates were 17 per 10…
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High abortion rates prevail in countries where abortion is legally restricted, whereas comparatively lower abortion rates of 12-17 per 1000 women have been reported in western and northern Europe, where abortion is permitted on broad grounds.
“Hence, high abortion rates prevail in countries where the procedure is legally restricted, whereas comparatively lower abortion rates of 12-17 have been reported in, for example, western and northern Europe, where abortion is permitted on broad grounds (12).”
From Unsafe abortion and postabortion care - an overview (2011) · cites this paper as [12]
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- Authors
- Sedgh, G., Henshaw, S., Singh, S., Åhman, E., & Shah, I. H.
- Affiliations
- Guttmacher Institute (US)
- World Health Organization (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Sedgh, Gilda
- Venue
- The Lancet
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-10
- Volume
- 370
- Issue
- 9595
- Pages
- 1338-1345
- ISSN
- 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
- 0140-6736
- OpenAlex
- W1979531284
- Cited by
- 474
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 48
- FWCI
- 39.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Lancet (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › International Human Rights and Reproductive Law
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
- Keywords
- abortion, abortion rates, unsafe abortion, safe abortion, abortion trends, unintended pregnancy, maternal mortality, Millennium Development Goal 5, developing countries, contraceptive access, global estimates
- MeSH terms
- Abortion, Induced, Adolescent, Adult, Developing Countries, Female, Health Policy, Humans, Pregnancy, Global Health, Incidence
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