New Study: Country-specific estimates of unintended pregnancy and abortion

Guttmacher Institute recently released an important study titled “Country-specific estimates of unintended pregnancy and abortion incidence: A global comparative analysis of levels in 2015–2019.“

Their stated goal was to illuminate disparities in sexual and reproductive health and autonomy by using country-specific estimates of unintended pregnancy and abortion.

Guttmacher found that unintended pregnancy rates ranged from 11 per 1000 women in Montenegro to 145 per 1000 women in Uganda (women and girls aged 15–49 years). Estimated abortion rates ranged from 5 per 1000 women in Singapore to 80 per 1000 women in Georgia.

“In general, unintended pregnancy rates are greatest among women who live in lower-income countries, and smallest among women who live in higher-income countries,” noted the report. The greatest average abortion rates were those found in Eastern and Southeastern Asia, with 43 abortions per 1000 reproductive-aged women per year.

The study was conducted in partnership with The World Health Organization.

“For good health, people in countries around the world need access to a comprehensive package of sexuality education, accurate family planning information and services, as well as quality abortion care,” said Dr Bela Ganatra, WHO’s Prevention of Unsafe Abortion unit lead.

“This research aims to support countries as they work to strengthen the lifesaving services they provide for sexual and reproductive health and improve health outcomes – especially for women and girls.”