This document discusses unsafe abortions among young people. It aims to provide an overview of the topic, including objectives like discussing the nature, scope, and factors contributing to unsafe abortions in young people. Some key points include: - Unsafe abortions are common among young, unmarried girls in many countries due to lack of contraceptive/health information and services, as well as social and legal barriers. - Factors driving unsafe abortions include limited access to contraception, stigma from communities and providers, and restrictive abortion laws. - Complications from unsafe abortions disproportionately impact young women and can result in medical, psychological, social and economic consequences. - Prevention requires improving access to contra

1. UNSAFE ABORTIONS IN YOUNG
PEOPLE

2. Aim of the session
The aim of the session is to provide an overview
of the unit including the objectives

3. Unit objectives
• Discuss the nature and scope of abortion in young
people
• List the factors that contribute to unsafe abortion in
young people
• Identify the consequences of unsafe abortion in
young people
• Recognise the implications for the diagnosis and
management of unsafe abortion
• Consider what needs to be done to prevent unsafe
abortion

4. The Nature and Scope of Unsafe Abortion
Aim of the session
• To discuss the nature and scope (both globally
and locally) of unsafe abortion among young
people.

5. How common is unsafe abortion among young people
in your district or community
• Very common
• Fairly common
• Not at all common

6. • (Why do you think there is such
disagreement about how common unsafe
abortion is?)
• How do you, as health service providers
become aware of the problem of unsafe
abortion

7. Percentage of women aged 15 – 19 with
unwanted or mistimed last births in the
preceding five years
Country (yr) Total (a) Married (a) Unmarried
Malawi (2004) 31
Botswana (1986) 81 39 88
Uganda (1988/9) 35 30 65
Ghana (1993) 68 61 90
Senegal (1992/3) 31 93 78
a) Includes both unwanted and mistimed pregnancies

8. Why do adolescent girls often
resort to unsafe abortion?

9. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO UNSAFE
ABORTION IN YOUNG PEOPLE
Aim of the session
To discuss various factors which contribute to
unsafe abortion in young people.

10. How do the following factors affect
unsafe abortion in young girls in your
district
No impact Adds to the Reduces the
problem problem
Access to contraceptive information
Access to sexual and reproductive
health information
Life skills training
Access to safe abortion practices
Attitudes and behaviours of health
care providers
Community norms
Laws and policies on sexual and
reproductive health of adolescents
Other factors

11. Factors that could help reduce unsafe
abortion in young people
• Availability and accessibility of contraceptive
information and services
• Availability and accessibility of safe abortion services
• Health-care providers are helpful and non-
judgmental
• Community norms permit open and frank discussion
about sexuality in young people
• National laws and policies facilitate the provision of
reproductive health information and services that
young people need

12. Diagnosis, Management and
Consequences of Unsafe Abortion in
Young People
Aim of the session
• To discuss the diagnosis, management and
consequences of unsafe abortion in young
people.

13. Compared with adults, young people with
an unsafe abortion are more likely to:
• Delay seeking help
• Come alone, or with a friend, rather than the
partner
• Have ingested substances that interfere with
treatment
• Have more entrenched complications

14. Compared with adults, young people with an
unsafe abortion are more likely to:
• Be unmarried and outside a stable
relationship
• Be primi gravida
• Have a longer gestation up to the time of
abortion
• Have used dangerous methods to terminate
pregnancy
• Have resorted to illegal providers

15. Key aspects in the Management of Unsafe
Abortions
• Emergency resuscitation as necessary
• Evacuation of the uterus
• Treatment of any complications.
• Post-abortion counseling
• Follow-up

16. Consequences of Unsafe Abortion in
Young People
• Medical – Morbidity and mortality
• Psychological – Depression and
• withdrawal
• Social – Ostracism
• Economic – Health-care costs and lost
investments in education

17. Major Short Term Complications
• Tetanus
• Haemorrhage
• Localized or generalized infection
• Injuries (genital lacerations, perforations of
organs)

18. Major Long Term Complications
• Chronic pelvic infection
• Secondary infertility
• Subsequent spontaneous abortion
• Increased likelihood of ectopic pregnancy
• Increased likelihood of premature labor

19. • Which of the listed consequences apply in
your community?
• Are influential gatekeepers (such as political
and religious leaders) aware of these
consequences?
• If they are aware, what if anything are they
doing to reduce the occurrence of unsafe
abortion?

20. Preventing Unsafe Abortion
Group Work (group discussions)