Capacity and Autonomy
Every year, millions of women face sensitive and difficult choices about their health and bodies. In many parts of the world, safe and legal abortion options are either restricted or completely unavailable.
This leads to an increasing number of unsafe abortions, which are dangerous procedures done outside of a safe medical clinical setting; often without proper medical oversight, a management plan or a follow up consultation.
When safe options are limited, some women may feel vulnerable and forced to turn to unsafe methods, which put their lives at serious risk. Unsafe abortions can lead to severe infection, excessive bleeding, and sometimes death. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that nearly 25 million unsafe abortions happen each year, resulting in thousands of deaths and countless injuries.
It’s a reality that highlights just how important it is for women to have access to safe, legal, and supportive healthcare options – regardless of certain beliefs.
The lack of choice over one’s body and health is more than just a medical issue – it’s a matter of human rights. Every woman deserves the right to make decisions about her own body, health, and future. When we restrict access to safe abortion, we deny women this fundamental right and force many into dangerous situations; for example ectopic pregnancies if continued, can harm not only the foetus but also the mother.
Choice isn’t about encouraging any one option; it’s about trusting women to make the best choice for themselves, whether that’s continuing a pregnancy or seeking a safe abortion, with the full amount of information explained for both options.
Conclusion
When women have access to safe medical care, they are empowered to make decisions that protect their health, emotional well-being, and future. Studies show that when abortion is legal and accessible, maternal deaths decrease, and overall health outcomes improve. Every woman’s situation is unique, and respecting that individuality means giving her the ability to choose in a safe, supportive environment.
In a world where health is a fundamental right, women’s access to safe and legal abortion services is essential. Ensuring choice and safety isn’t just about healthcare – it’s about respect, dignity, and trust in women to make decisions that are best for them.
Whatever your individual standpoint or belief, we have to respect each others decisions.
References
World Health Organization. (2020). Preventing unsafe abortion. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preventing-unsafe-abortion.
Ganatra, B., Gerdts, C., Rossier, C., et al. (2017). Global, regional, and subregional classification of abortions by safety, 2010–14: estimates from a Bayesian hierarchical model. The Lancet, 390(10110), 2372-2381.
Sedgh, G., Bearak, J., Singh, S., et al. (2016). Abortion incidence between 1990 and 2014: Global, regional, and subregional levels and trends. The Lancet, 388(10041), 258–267.
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MyHSN
