Abortion laws reform may reduce maternal mortality: an ecological study in 162 countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unsafe abortion is one of the commonest causes of maternal mortality. Abortion-related maternal deaths are higher in countries with the most restrictive abortion laws. We assess whether maternal mortality varies within and between countries over time according to the flexibility of abortion laws (the number of reasons a woman can have an abortion).

Method

We conducted an ecological study to assess the association between abortion laws and maternal mortality in 162 countries between 1985 and 2013. Aggregate-level data on abortion laws and maternal mortality were extracted from United Nations (UN), and World Health Organization's (WHO) database respectively. A flexibility score of abortion laws (Score 0-7) was calculated by summing the number of reasons for which ab

SUBMITTER: Latt SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6321671 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature