Abortion Incidence and Severity of Complications in Liberia: Key Findings from the 2021 Liberia National Abortion Study

Abstract

Unsafe abortion is defined as a procedure of terminating a pregnancy that is performed by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment, not in conformity with minimal medical standards, or both. Unsafe abortion is among top causes of maternal illnesses and deaths and the treatment of abortion complications drains significant health system resources. There is limited scientific information available on the context in which women seek unsafe abortions, the magnitude of the unsafe abortion problem, and the resulting complications from such abortions. This evidence brief summarizes the findings of a 2021 nationwide abortion study in Liberia that aimed to estimate the incidence and severity of related complications.