Induced abortion in sub-Saharan Africa: what we do and do not know

The first step in addressing the growing public health problem of abortion in sub-Saharan Africa is to gain a better understanding of the problem and its complexities. Abortion behavior is inextricably connected with issues of women's roles and opportunities, and until the various dimensions of abortion behavior and its socioeconomic context are understood, governments will have difficulty addressing the problem effectively. In addition, abortion needs to be studied within the broader framework of reproductive health. In a continent where fertility is highly valued and infertility prevalent, the interaction between abortion, practice of contraception, and fears of infertility must be fully understood if we are to have any hope of reducing the numbers of unwanted pregnancies and the morbidity and mortality caused by induced abortion.