Africa Daily
Africa Daily
Why are cases of unsafe abortion so high in Africa?
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October 14, 2024
22 minutes
Available for over a year
Before you listen to this episode, please be warned we will be discussing incidents that are highly distressing. Some of the explanations are graphic and could upset some listeners.
Today Mpho Lakaje sits down with Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile who had a horrifying experience when she went for an abortion facility in Johannesburg.
It came after she was raped in 2009 and opted not to keep the baby.
She explains to our presenter why women risk their lives by opting for an unsafe abortion even though terminating a pregnancy is legal in South Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions in the world, contributing to around 7% of maternal deaths in the region.
In countries like Egypt, Madagascar, and Congo, abortion is completely illegal.
On the other hand, South Africa, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau permit the termination of pregnancy within certain time frames.