WHO issues new guidelines on Abortion to help countries deliver better services
In a bid to improve the quality of abortion services, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines that advise countries on how to provide safe abortions.
The updated guidelines include recommendations for safe abortion care and post-abortion care in settings where there are no formal restrictions on abortion.
The recommendation aims at reducing maternal deaths from unsafe procedures by ensuring that every woman needing an abortion receives one that is safe, legal and accessible.
“Safe abortion is a critical component of women’s reproductive health and rights,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia Region. “It is important for all women to have access to safe abortion services without delay.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines on abortion to help countries deliver better services.
The guidelines, the first to be released since 1994, aim to increase access to safe abortion for women who want it and improve maternal health outcomes in countries where abortion is legal. They also aim to reduce the negative impact of unsafe abortions on women’s health.
The WHO recommends that all women should have access to sexual and reproductive health services that include counselling on family planning, including the use of contraception; emergency contraception; safe abortion care; and post-abortion care.
The WHO guidelines state: “Safe abortion care is part of comprehensive reproductive health services.” The WHO says that this means providing “timely access” to safe abortions performed by trained professionals under sterile conditions and with appropriate medications for pain management.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released new guidelines on abortion to help countries deliver better services. The guidelines are intended to give women who need abortions access to safe, legal abortion services that meet their needs and offer them the best possible care.
The WHO recommends that countries work toward decriminalizing abortion and replacing laws that restrict access with ones that protect women’s health and ensure they have access to safe medical care. All WHO member states are encouraged to provide comprehensive sexuality education programs in schools and programs for adolescents, including measures that specifically address sexual health and HIV prevention, as well as contraception.
In addition, the WHO guidelines call on governments to ensure that everyone has access to the necessary information about abortion services and medical care related to pregnancy termination. They encourage countries where abortion is allowed but not widely available — such as those in Latin America — to work toward making it more widely available.
