FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA TO THE UNITED STATES: EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF ABORTION POLICY ON MATERNAL HEALTH

Abstract

This literature review explores the global issue of unsafe abortion and the insights it can offer into the effects on women seeking abortions in the United States following the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is highlighted as a region with one of the highest rates of unsafe abortion due to restrictive laws and underlying social stigma. The findings reveal that most abortions in SSA are unsafe, resulting in high hospitalization and maternal mortality rates. The review also examines policy reforms in Ethiopia and South Africa, which have improved abortion safety and maternal health. However, barriers to accessing safe abortion persist, including community backlash, negative healthcare provider attitudes, misconceptions of abortion, and financial challenges. This review identifies common challenges encountered by women seeking abortions in both SSA and the US. In the US, around 29% of reproductive-age women live in states with restricted or nonexistent abortion access.1 By examining the situation in SSA, this literature review highlights the potential to gain valuable insights into addressing public health issues associated with abortion and informing policy decisions in the post-Roe era.