By Winnie Kamau
Nairobi, Kenya: Abortion in Africa has always been seen as a taboo topic. But as a taboo topic a research conducted by GuttMacher Institute showed the Unintended pregnancy and abortion in Africa.
In Eastern Africa, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 17% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019. During the same period, the abortion rate increased by 20%. The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion rose from 24% to 35%. In 2015–2019, there were a total of 20,900,000 pregnancies annually of these, 9,890,000 pregnancies were unintended and 3,500,000 ended in abortion.
In Middle Africa, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 3% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019. During the same period, the abortion rate increased by 20%. The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion rose from 25% to 31%. In 2015–2019, there were a total of 9,380,000 pregnancies annually of these, 4,010,000 pregnancies were unintended and 1,240,000 ended in abortion.
In Northern Africa, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 27% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019. During the same period, the abortion rate declined by 4%. The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion rose from 42% to 56%. In 2015–2019, there were a total of 10,000,000 pregnancies annually of these, 4,800,000 pregnancies were unintended and 2,680,000 ended in abortion.
In Southern Africa, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 18% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019. During the same period, the abortion rate increased by 41%. The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion rose from 21% to 36%. In 2015–2019, there were a total of 2,280,000 pregnancies annually of these, 1,480,000 pregnancies were unintended and 526,000 ended in abortion.
In Western Africa, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 8% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019. During the same period, the abortion rate increased by 33%. The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion rose from 30% to 42%. In 2015–2019, there were a total of 19,900,000 pregnancies annually of these, 6,490,000 pregnancies were unintended and 2,740,000 ended in abortion.
A total of around 104,000 abortions were performed, up from 94,600 in 2021, which was the lowest level since recording began, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany said.
However, the number of abortions reported in 2022 was also above the level of the years 2014 to 2020, when the number was relatively constant between about 99,000 and 101,000.
The last time the number was higher than in 2022 was in 2012, when 106,800 cases were reported. It was not possible to identify a clear cause for the sharp increase in 2022, the statistics office said.
