Reproductive rights of women seeking abortion

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Reproductive rights of women seeking abortion
Galina Maistruk, ?oordinator European Alliance
for Reproductive Choice
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The question of abortion is a part of the
question of reproductive health, reproductive
choice and reproductive rights. The decision of
special session of General assembly UN (June,
1995, item 8.25) ...In conditions at which
abortion doesn't contradict the legislation,
abortion performance should be safe... Throughou
t centuries the problem of abortion was and
remains a subject of fierce disputes,
interdictions, struggle....
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Russian empire/USSR/ The countries of Eastern
European region
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Russian empire/USSR/ The countries of Eastern
European region
Before 1917 year prohibited... Since 1920
year permitted Since 1937 year again
prohibited... Since 1955 year - again permitted
In most countries of Eastern European region
abortion is legal.
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Despite the widespread availability of abortion
on legal grounds for more than 50 years, unsafe
abortions account for 24 of maternal deaths in
countries Eastern European region (WHO, 1998).
Abortion rates remain high. Abortion is
commonly used as a primary means to regulate
fertility the use of modern contraception
methods remains low. Medical abortion is still
inaccessible for general population and remains
an elite method for most of the women
(officially permitted in Russia since 1999, in
Ukraine since 2001 year).
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The analysis of the access to safe abortion in
Eastern European countries has showed the
following common trends

• Low level of the awareness and limited
  information about
• the method, low demand for comprehensive abortion
  care
• services, many existing myths
• Cost of the pills for MA is prohibitive
• Statistics sometimes is not correct
• Lack of providers motivation to use a new
  methods, the
• misuse, low efficacy
• Unwillingness of the public health systems to
  take the
• necessary steps for the implementation of the
  medical
• abortion services, and unnecessary barriers
  imposed by
• their regulations.

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(No Transcript)
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The level of abortion in Ukraine
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Mortality from abortion in Ukraine (absolute
number)
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Methods of abortion in Ukraine
Curettage
Vacuum aspiration
Medical abortion about 1 (2008 year)
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The Abortions and Contraception in Ukraine
WHO/MOH Strategic Assessment of policy and
programmes in the sphere of unplanned pregnancy,
abortions and contraception is a considerable
contribution to the sphere of preserving
reproductive health of the population of Ukraine
(2007- 2008 years). The main aim of the
publication is to present information on the
results, recommendations and further steps of the
Strategic Assessment.
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Obstacles to wide introduction of safe abortion
in Ukraine

• No idea about reproductive rights!!!
• Low knowledge of the population (RR, safe
  abortion, ect).
• Insufficient level of knowledge of medical
  specialists in RR
• Legislation.
• Low knowledge of medical specialists. The
  negative relation
• from medical specialists (Safe abortion doesn't
  happen!).
• Primary use of out-of-date (unsafe) methods.
• Restrictions (terms of pregnancy). Exp 49 days
  for
• medical abortion.

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Obstacles to wide introduction of safe abortion
in Ukraine

• The dose of mifepristone is still 600 mg. !!!!
• High cost of services in private and state
  medical institutions.
• lack of necessary equipment (MVA, EVA) and
  materials.
• Imperfection of clinical protocols and standards.
• Absence of monitoring system

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Concerns about declining birth rates, pressure
from religious groups have reduced support for
family planning and abortion.
16 /09/2010 in Ministry of Health Care Ukraine
was provide Round table Medical, social,
psychological aspects of unofficial termination
of unwanted pregnancy.
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Promoting choice for Safe abortion important
way to guarantee Reproductive rights of women
seeking abortion.

• Advocacy on international and national levels
• Development of advocacy strategy
• Improvement of advocacy skills
• Development of advocacy tools.
• Education on international and national levels
  (ToT, est.)
• Creation of Education Programme
• ToT regional national level
• Improvement of knowledge among providers
• Exchange of experience.

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Promoting choice for Safe abortion important
way to guarantee Reproductive rights of women
seeking abortion.

• Research and Documentation
• Strategic Assessment
• Country Profiles
• IEC activities
• Access to research programs, evidence-based info.
• Dissemination
• Comprehensive care of unwanted pregnancies
  models
• Good clinical practice (GCP)
• Exchange of experience.

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Thanks! Welcome to Ukraine!