Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning PubHealthInfo

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PubHealth.info® (a subsidiary of PakMed) presents scientific information mainly based on abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health issues/topics, particularly encompassing population planning, disease prevention, maternal and child health, and communicable and non-communicable diseases (like HIV AIDS, malaria, etc) that are affecting a significant portion of population in developing and developed countries. Here you can find abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health topics under category "Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning". Contraception (birth control) is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of a woman becoming pregnant or giving birth. Therefore contraception is the utilization of various and sundry surgical procedures, devices, practices, agents, or drugs with the intention of preventing conception or impregnation (pregnancy). Methods and intentions typically termed birth control may be considered a pivotal ingredient to family planning. Birth control is a controversial political and ethical issue in many cultures and religions, and although it is generally less controversial than abortion specifically.

YEAR: 1994

CATEGORY: Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning

TITLE

Maternal and child health / family planning and abortion in Madagascar.

AUTHORS

SOURCE

[Unpublished] 1994. Presented at the Conference on Unsafe Abortion and Post

Abortion Family Planning in Africa, Mauritius, March 24-28, 1994. 5 p.

ABSTRACT

Although therapeutic abortion is legal in Madagascar, 3 physicians must certify that the procedure is necessary to

save the life of the mother. For other circumstances, the repercussions for providers who perform abortions are

severe: 5 years' imprisonment and a stiff fine, 10 years' imprisonment and an even larger fine if it is established that

the individual is a habitual provider, and possible withdrawal of one's license to practice or resident visa. For women

who undergo an illegal abortion, the penal code specifies 6-24 months' imprisonment and a fine of 18-360,000

francs. Despite these sanctions, illegal abortion is widespread. Department of Health and Population statistics for

1988 indicate that 8934 women presented to hospitals in Madagascar in 1988 for treatment of complications related

to clandestine abortions; 166 of these women died. Obviously, this statistic is a tremendous understatement of the

extent of the problem and tends to be reflective of self-induced abortions. Procedures performed, without

complications, by traditional doctors, midwives, and paramedics are not recorded. A Ministry of Health survey

conducted in Malagasy identified the following age-specific abortion rates: 15-19 years, 18/1000; 20-24 years,

80/1000; 25-29 years, 136/1000; 30-34 years, 171/1000; 35-39 years, 162/1000; 40-44 years 141/1000; and 45-49

years, 102/1000 women. Yet another survey conducted in Malagasy found that 38% of women of reproductive age

(45% of those 25-34 years of age) would pursue illegal abortion in the event of an unwanted pregnancy. 44% of

couples in urban areas and 55% of those in rural Madagascar have already exceeded their desired family size, but

only 17% overall use a contraceptive method (5% a modern method). Given the government's intransigence on

easing restrictions on abortion, there is an urgent need to increase knowledge of and access to reliable

contraceptive methods. At present, there are only 166 family planning service delivery sites in a country with a

population of 12 million. (PubHealth.info Document ID: CONT2T 4083-06)

PubHealth.info NOTE: The author(s) of this article titled, "Maternal and child health / family planning and abortion in

Madagascar.", is(are) . The source of this article is "[Unpublished] 1994. Presented at the Conference on Unsafe

Abortion and Post Abortion Family Planning in Africa, Mauritius, March 24-28, 1994. 5 p.". This article was published

in 1994 in English language(s). (PubHealth.info® Document ID: CONT2T 4083-06. All rights reserved with

PubHealth.info) PIN: 9083

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