11Role of birth spacing, family planning services, safe abortion services and post-abortion care in reducing maternal mortality
Introduction
In general, approaches to reducing maternal mortality include improving care in pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period; preventing pregnancy particularly among women at high risk of morbidity and mortality; and preventing unsafe abortion. In this study, we first review the contribution of birth spacing and timely prevention of pregnancy and then determine the role of safe abortion services and post-abortion care (PAC) in reducing maternal mortality.
Section snippets
Family planning and maternal mortality
Paradoxically, the introduction of family planning services in a population may increase the maternal mortality ratio (MMR). The first to adopt contraception are usually the more educated, who have a lower risk of maternal death [1]. Thus, while the denominator of the ratio (number of births) will decrease, the numerator (maternal deaths) will not decrease in the same proportion with an initial apparent increase in the MMRs. It is only when these services reach a larger population that MMRs
High levels of unmet need for contraception and high levels of abortion
Prevalence of contraceptive methods has been rising; nevertheless, an estimated 146 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 130–166 million) women worldwide aged 15–49 years who were married or were in a union had unmet need for family planning in 2010 [28]. Additionally, it is important to note that unintended pregnancies can and do occur among contraceptive users as all contraceptive methods even with perfect use can fail. Pregnancies also result from sexual assault or rape. Sometimes, health,
Conclusion
Access to contraception and the provision of family planning is an essential reproductive health intervention that helps reduce maternal deaths by preventing or delaying pregnancy in women who do not intend to be pregnant or those at higher risk of morbidity and mortality. The provision of safe abortion is essential to prevent the complications arising from unsafe abortion, and the provision of emergency care for complications is essential to prevent deaths from those complications. Equally
Conflict of interests
The authors have no conflicts of interest. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and they do not necessarily represent the views, decisions or policies of the institutions with which they are affiliated.
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