A Case for a Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health (SMRH) Law in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Unsafe abortion is among one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Africa. In the Sub- Saharan Africa region, women are most likely to die from unsafe abortion. As of 2019, the Sub-Saharan Africa region has the highest abortion-related case-fatality rate of any world region. Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, currently at 717 for every 100,000 births, and about 10 % of these are due to unsafe abortion. Most of these deaths are preventable with better access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and information, particularly family planning and post-abortion care.