Three things our clients taught us about unsafe abortion
In Sierra Leone, where abortion is heavily restricted, unsafe abortion is common – and deadly. In fact, one in ten pregnancy-related deaths is due to unsafe abortion.
Abortion is extremely common, and women seek it whether it’s legal or not. But when safe services aren’t available, they’re driven to dangerous options. In these contexts, skilled healthcare after an unsafe abortion is critical.
We recently spoke to clients about their experience of unsafe abortion. They told us what they and people they know have gone through. Their stories show the life-threatening danger when safe abortion care isn’t available—and how when women are driven to desperate measures, access to skilled post-abortion care can help women not just survive but set on the path for a brighter future.
Women seek unsafe abortion when safe care is unavailable
Many of the women we spoke to were young when they found themselves facing an unwanted pregnancy. Like millions of women around the world, they decided that even though safe abortion care wasn’t available, they would go to extreme lengths to end their pregnancy, because the stakes for their futures were high.
“I was afraid of what my parents would do to me,” Marian told us. “I was worried over my parents disowning me and I wanted to further my education” At just 19 years old, with four younger siblings to care for, Marian knew that finishing school was the key to improving her family’s financial situation. She was willing to risk her life for the chance to complete her education.
Without post-abortion care, women die
Many of the women we spoke to knew of neighbors, classmates or friends who had died from unsafe abortion. Kadiatu, who came to MSI for care after an unsafe abortion, shared her story with a friend who was facing an unwanted pregnancy, warning her about the risks.
“I knew someone, I advised her not to do an abortion. I told her about what happened to me, but she did not listen,” she said. “So, she went and did an unsafe abortion, and she ended up losing her life.”
Caring providers save lives—and support brighter futures
For women who have been through an unsafe abortion and are seeking life-saving post-abortion care, kindness from providers can make a real difference. After experiencing the shame and stigma that drove them to an unsafe provider, receiving care without judgment makes an impression.
“At first, I had so much fear in me, as I believed when I get to the hospital, the nurses will chastise me, they will judge me that I am too young to do an abortion,” a young woman named Marie told us. “The way they attended to me made me feel good.” Now, she feels confident that if someone she knows is going through the same thing, she knows where to send them for treatment.
“If post-abortion care was not offered, I would have been a victim of teenage pregnancy which would have ruined my life, and I wouldn’t have been the person I am today,” Marie said. She completed her education and now runs a small trading business.
For women like Marian, Marie and Kadiatu, an unsafe abortion wasn’t the end of their story. They had access to caring providers trained in post-abortion care, and as a result, they went on to brighter futures.
But many women aren’t so lucky. Restrictive laws and social stigma drive women to unsafe providers, and too many still don’t know where to turn for care if something goes wrong.
We know what it will take to end unsafe abortion. All we need is political will. At MSI, we’ll continue working so that women can get the care they need.
