Does unsafe abortion happen in the Middle East and North Africa?
It’s believed that unsafe abortion contributes to 6 percent of maternal deaths in the region. But that figure is underreported due to poor data collection, social stigma surrounding abortion and the fact that many of these deaths occur at home, away from the eyes of the public health establishment. Women are having abortions across countries in the region; whether they are safe or not depends on a woman’s socio-economic class and the legality of abortion in that country. In Egypt, where abortion is only allowed to save a woman’s life, one study estimated that 1,000 unsafe abortions take place every day, predominately among poor and low-income women. What role are women playing in public discussions about abortion? The number of women’s organizations has grown considerably during the past 20 years. Women’s groups are reclaiming the right to reinterpret Muslim traditions and practices, encyclopedias on women’s rights in Islam have been written, as have related advocacy and educational ma
