1. Comparative situational analysis of comprehensive abortion care in four Southern African countries.
- Author
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Macleod, Catriona Ida, Reuvers, Megan, Reynolds, John Hunter, Lavelanet, Antonella, and Delate, Richard
- Subjects
HIV infection epidemiology ,ABORTION laws ,MATERNAL health services ,CONTRACEPTION ,HEALTH services accessibility ,RAPE ,MEDICAL care ,VIOLENCE ,LABOR demand ,SOCIAL stigma ,COMPARATIVE studies ,GENDER ,RESEARCH funding ,USER charges ,WORKING hours ,REPRODUCTIVE health - Abstract
We report on a comparative situational analysis of comprehensive abortion care (CAC) in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia. We conducted systematic literature searches and country consultations and used a reparative health justice approach (with four dimensions) for the analysis. The following findings pertain to all four countries, except where indicated. Individual material dimension: pervasive gender-based violence (GBV); unmet need for contraception (15−17%); high HIV prevalence; poor abortion access for rape survivors; fees for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services (Eswatini). Collective material dimension: no clear national budgeting for SRH; over-reliance on donor funding (Eswatini; Lesotho); no national CAC guidelines or guidance on legal abortion access; poor data collection and management systems; shortage and inequitable distribution of staff; few facilities providing abortion care. Individual symbolic dimension: gender norms justify GBV; stigma attached to both abortion and unwed or early pregnancies. Collective symbolic dimension: policy commitments to reducing unsafe abortion and to post-abortion care, but not to increasing access to legal abortion; inadequate research; contradictions in abortion legislation (Botswana); inadequate staff training in CAC. Political will to ensure CAC within the country's legislation is required. Reparative health justice comparisons provide a powerful tool for foregrounding necessary policy and practice change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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