Global

Abortion

For decades, the Guttmacher Institute has documented the reality of unsafe abortion in the developing world. We have pioneered methodologies to study abortion in countries where it is legally restricted, and our research portfolio includes studies on the incidence of abortion, the factors underlying women’s decisions to end their pregnancies, the conditions under which women obtain abortions, and the health, social and economic consequences of clandestine abortion. Most recently, the Unintended Pregnancy and Abortion Worldwide study has produced model-based estimates of the incidence of unintended pregnancy and abortion over the period 1990–2019 for 150 countries and territories around the world. Such estimates provide an opportunity to assess trends in unintended pregnancy and abor­tion over time for individual countries and territories, as well as regionally and globally. The Institute supports policies to promote access to safe abortion services worldwide, including through U.S. foreign aid programs.

 

Country Profiles
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Featured Resources

Resources

  5. Research Article

    Setting the research agenda for induced abortion in Africa and Asia

    Rachel H. Scott, Veronique Filippi, Ann M. Moore, Rajib Acharya, Akinrinola Bankole, Clara Calvert, Kathryn Church, Jenny A. Cresswell, Katharine Footman, Joanne Gleason, Kazuyo Machiyama, Cicely Marston, Mike Mbizvo, Maurice Musheke, Onikepe Owolabi, Jennifer Palmer, Christopher Smith, Katerini Storeng and Felicia Yeung International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
  6. Report

    Accelerate Progress—Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All

    Ann M. Starrs, Alex Ezeh, Gary Barker, Alaka Basu, Jane T. Bertrand, Robert W. Blum, Awa M. Coll-Seck, Anand Grover, Laura Laski, Monica Roa, Zeba A. Sathar, Lale Say, Gamal I. Serour, Susheela Singh, Karin Stenberg, Marleen Temmerman, Ann Biddlecom, Anna Popinchalk, Cynthia Summers and Lori S. Ashford

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In low and middle-income countries, the poorest women typically are at greatest risk of experiencing serious complications from unsafe abortion. They are least likely to have access to high-quality family planning services, safe abortion procedures and postabortion care when they need treatment for complications.

Portrait of Susheela Singh

Susheela Singh

Distinguished Scholar and Vice President for Global Science and Policy Integration