By: Taisiah K. Merfee
IPNEWS-Monrovia: The representative of Family Planning Youth to Liberia Jutomue Doetein has called for action to reduce unsafe abortion in Liberia.
An FPY statement dated April 26, 2023, said the Liberia National Abortion Study, conducted by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), along with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and Guttmacher, has revealed alarming rates of induced abortions and related complications in Liberia.
The statement disclosed that the study estimated that about 38,779 induced abortions occurred in Liberia in 2021, resulting in an induced abortion rate of 30.7 per 1,000 women of reproductive age and an induced abortion ratio of 229 abortions per 1,000 live births.
According to the statement, unsafe abortion is among the top causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in the country, and the treatment of abortion complications drains significant health system resources. We call on the government and all relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to reduce the incidence of unsafe abortion in Liberia.
“We urge the government to prioritize advanced legal and policy reforms that address the root causes of unsafe abortion, including inadequate access to sexual and reproductive health services, gender inequality, and poverty,” it said.
The statement revealed that the government must create an enabling environment that facilitates access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for all women and girls of reproductive age, including comprehensive sexuality education, expanded access to family planning services, and quality sexual and reproductive health services.
It indicated that expanding access to quality post-abortion care, including post-abortion contraception counselling and method provision at all health facility levels is critical.
“This requires strengthening the capacity of lower-level health facilities and mid-level care providers to provide quality care and ensure that women and girls receive comprehensive post-abortion care, including counseling, treatment for complications, and family planning services,” the statement explained.
The statement said that community education and awareness of the dangers of unsafe abortion, the existing legal status of abortion, and current access points of family planning methods in the country must be prioritized.
“We also urge the government to strengthen partnerships with civil society organizations, religious leaders, and other relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of these recommendations. This will help to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the process and that progress is sustained over time,” it noted.
The statement said there must be an advocate for the health and well-being of women and girls in Liberia; saying that it calls on the government and all relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to reduce the incidence of unsafe abortion in the country.
It established that the findings of the Liberia National Abortion Study are a wake-up call to prioritize the health and well-being of women and girls in the country, and we call on all stakeholders to join us in this effort.
“Together, we can create a future where all women and girls in Liberia have access to safe and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services andΒ can make informed decisions about their bodies and their lives,” the statement revealed.
