Preventing unsafe abortion

The persistent public health problem

Unsafe abortion refers to the termination of an unintended pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment
lacking the minimal medical standards, or both. (WHO definition)

Response

To address the problem of unsafe abortion,
the UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP):

monitors the prevalence of, and trends in, unsafe abortion and associated mortality
develops new or improved methods of family planning for regular or emergency use
assists countries to broaden the choice of family planning methods and improve the quality of care in family planning services;
assists countries to identify and prioritize needs related to preventing unsafe abortion and strengthening reproductive health; design and implement action research to address priority needs; and scale-up successful policy and programme innovations
provides guidance on the management of complications of unsafe abortion;
develops safe alternative approaches to pregnancy termination;
formulates evidence-based technical and policy guidance on safe abortion.

Work in the area of prevention of unsafe abortion is done exclusively within the UNDP/ UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP)