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Maternal Mortality: A Critical Issue in Africa 13Aug. 2009: INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD has acknowledged an alarming “surge” in maternal deaths in South Africa. Maternal deaths increased by 20% from 2005-2007 in South Africa. Since 1996 South Africa has had one of the most permissive abortion laws on the continent. The largest portion of maternal deaths are due to HIV/AIDS. However, IPPF acknowledges that a portion of these deaths are “due to complications from (legal) abortions” The lowest African maternal mortality rate is Mauritius, according to a 2009 World Health Organization (WHO) report. They also have the continent’s most protective laws for the unborn.

According to WHO, the country with the lowest maternal mortality rate in South America is Chile, which protects unborn lives in its constitution. The country with the highest maternal mortality rate is Guyana, with unrestricted abortions since 1995. Guyana has a maternal mortality rate 30 TIMES higher than Chile.

In South East Asia, Nepal has no restriction on abortions; and also has the region’s highest maternal mortality rates. While Sri Lanka has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world, and has a maternal mortality rate 14 TIMES lower than Nepal. World wide the nation with the lowest maternal death rate is Ireland, a nation that prohibits abortion and explicitly protects the rights of the unborn.

The death of a pregnant woman or new mother is often a preventable tragedy and comprehensive efforts to save the lives of all mothers and newborns must be a priority of governments.

Legal abortion does not equal safe abortion. Abortion is never safe for the child and often hurts the woman physically, emotionally, or psychologically and in some cases— can cause her death.

Are maternal mortality ratios accurate?

The numbers used in the ratio of maternal mortality are most often estimates often based on conjecture and extrapolation as well as a pro-abortion bias. Real numbers are rarely used. A report by the WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA entitled “Maternal Mortality in 2000: The measurement challenge”, states, “Maternal mortality is difficult to measure…” and further explains, “Moreover, even where overall levels of maternal mortality are high, maternal deaths are nonetheless relatively rare events and thus prone to measurement error.”

The WHO estimates that in 2000, the last year for worldwide estimates: 529,000 women worldwide died from pregnancy related causes, of these 251,000 women in the countries of Africa died

The WHO estimates that in 2000, the last year for worldwide estimates: 68,000 women worldwide; 30,000 women throughout Africa. Deaths due to abortion include both induced and spontaneous abortion (i.e. miscarriage).

Abortion promoters often cite abortion deaths in the thousands per country and claim that abortion must be legal in order to save women’s lives. Yet, the facts do not support their claims.

Former New York City abortionist, Bernard Nathanson, who in the 1970’s was instrumental in securing support for legalized abortion in the USA, writes in his book Aborting America, that the numbers of women dying from illegal abortions in the US were falsified: “It was always five thousand to ten thousand deaths a year. I confess that I knew the figures were totally false….but in the ‘morality’ of our revolution, it was a useful figure, widely accepted.”

In fact, in 1972, the year before abortion in the U.S. was legalized, the Centers for Disease Control (which was responsible for health statistics), reported that forty-one women had died due to illegal abortion— not the five to ten thousand abortion advocates claimed. Abortion promoters today continue to use this “numbers trick” that was so successful in the United States to legalize abortion. Once legal, the abortion industry went from the “back alley” to the front office changing only that they could now advertise openly.

Does legal abortion mean safe abortion and less maternal death? NO. While it is true that women sometimes die from illegal abortions, women die from legal abortions as well. Surgical abortion, legal or illegal, can cause deadly complications including blood loss, infection, and perforation of the uterus. Chemical/medical abortion methods such as RU486, which require two sets of pills and careful monitoring, can cause heavy bleeding. This is especially dangerous for poor women who are often anemic and malnourished. Severe bleeding is the most common cause of maternal death.

Poor medical conditions increase the likelihood of complications and death from every abortion. Conditions in developing countries that contribute to women’s deaths will not change with legalized abortion. Women will still lack basic medical and surgical supplies and access to health care that can save their lives.

Maternal mortality can be reduced in the developing world the same way it has been done in the developed world. The WHO reports that in the 1935-50s, maternal mortality in the developed world dramatically decreased as obstetric techniques were developed and general health care improved. This significant decline—long before legal abortion— is attributed to access to health care including: penicillin, clean and available blood, access to sanitary delivery to prevent infection, access to skilled birth attendants and access to basic and emergency obstetric care.

Denise Mountenay Author of Forgiven Canada Silent No More Endeavour Forum Inc. representative at the UN

Dr. Jean Kagio M.D. Ob/Gyn. Kenya, Africa