Unsafe abortion still frequent across the world but less often fatal

The frequency of induced abortions fell worldwide in the 1990s, from 35 abortions per 1,000 womenof childbearing age (15-44 years) in 1995 to 29 per 1,000 in 2003. But it stabilized in the 2000s (28per 1,000 in 2008) as the spread of contraceptive use slowed down in developing countries. Theproportion of unsafe abortions, defined by the WHO as abortions "performed by persons lackingthe necessary skills or in an environment not in conformity with minimal medical standards, or both,"did not fall, however, and still represents nearly halfof all elective terminations (49% in 2008). Paradoxically, abortion-related mortality has beenfalling steadily for two decades, from 60 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 40 per100,000 in 2008. The drop has been particularly pronounced in Latin America, even though abortionis still strongly condemned there. This development is linked in part to the spread of medical abortion incountries where it nonetheless remains illegal. Today, illegal no longer systematically means unsafe.