It shows that 46,439 married women , 13,815 sex workers , 15 ,441 secondary school girls, 19 ,264 uneducated girls had in unsafe abortions.
Unsafe abortions
Women and girls in Uganda are still battling unwanted pregnancies with unsafe methods of abortion. A recent report by the Community Health Rights Network (COHERINET), reveals that 61,505 abortions were recorded between 2018 and 2021 alone.
Unsafe abortion is a procedure for terminating a pregnancy performed by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment, not in conformity with minimal medical standards, or both. Latest reports from the district authorities suggest that desperate pregnant teenagers are resorting to using sticks and other sharp objects to remove unwanted fetuses.
The (COHERINET) report released in April 2022, says 102,309 women were interviewed from Kampala Metropolitan area, Gulu and Amuru districts. It shows that 46,439 married women , 13,815 sex workers , 15 ,441 secondary school girls, 19 ,264 uneducated girls,285 refugees and 91 persons with disability engaged in unsafe abortions.
Musa Yiga the team leader says they have launched a project Safe Abortion Action Funds to assist in minimizing unsafe abortions .
Yoweri Idiba, the Acting Health Officer of the Gulu district says that the majority of the teenage girls aged between 15 and 19 years have sought post-abortion care at the different health facilities after failed attempts to terminate their pregnancies.
Unsafe abortions
With women lacking access to safe and legal abortions, many of them turn to unsafe abortion practices, such as self-induced abortions.
The Penal Code Act penalizes abortion. However, section 22 (2) of the Constitution provides for the termination of the unborn through the performance of the surgical procedures to save the mother.
High abortion rates among teenage girls have been attributed to poverty, sexual abuse and the lockdown on institutions of learning.
According to a 2021 report from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the six regions with the highest numbers of teenage pregnancies were recorded between 2019 to 2021 are Busoga: the most affected district were Kamuli (6,535) and Mayuge (6,205 teenage pregnancies). North Central: the most affected districts were Mukono (5,535) and Luweero (4,545). Lango: (Oyam 6,449 and Lira 4,697).South Central: (Wakiso 10,439 and Rakai, 2711).West Nile: (Arua 4,705 and Yumbe 3,973). Tooro/ Rwenzori: Kasese (7,319) and Kyenjojo (4,341).
