A study reveals high abortion rates in Pakistan, driven by poor contraception access and unmet family planning needs
A new study shows a concerning trend of induced abortions being used as a form of birth control in Pakistan, with abortion rates over four times as high as in so-called ‘liberal’ countries. Part of the problem remains abysmally poor access to contraception and low contraception awareness. At least 17% of women have an unmet need for family planning, according to the study by the Population Council and Guttmacher Institute, both highly respected international NGOs. This is partly because of a lack of access to medical professionals, particularly in rural areas. This creates a hurdle in access to contraceptive devices that may need a doctor’s approval and expertise to install and use.
Meanwhile, cultural issues mean many women are uncomfortable going to male doctors, further narrowing the pool of available doctors. For similar reasons, even purchasing over-the-counter contraception can be complicated. It is also worth noting that while abortion is legal in Pakistan, the vague language of the law provides significant leeway in interpretation, leading some women who are denied abortions to opt for extremely dangerous alternative techniques to induce abortions, resulting in serious complications, including death, in about a quarter of all abortions.
Earlier studies have also shown that 95% of women getting abortions are married and already have multiple children. For some, abortion is essentially their primary contraceptive option. Many respondents said they had abortions because they couldn’t afford another mouth to feed or they feared giving birth to a girl. This alone reflects the failure of the healthcare system and regressive attitudes towards safe and effective family planning methods.
It is not just enough for the government to invest in infrastructure, capacity building and improving reproductive health services. In fact, without a massive shift in attitudes, women will continue to be forced to have abortions to end unwanted pregnancies, instead of being given easy access to the means that would allow them to not get pregnant unless they want to.
Editorial published in the Express Tribune on 7th October 2024
