The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4065.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 9:15 AM

Abstract #50543

Rights of the user in post-abortion care services

Lucía Rayas, MS, Policy Unit, Ipas, Pachuca 92, Col. Condesa, México, DF, Mexico, 011 52 52118381-113, rayasluc@hotmail.com

It is estimated that 46 million abortions occur worldwide every year. Of these, only 10 million occur in industrialized countries; the remainder are in developing nations. The volume of abortion complications resulting from these astonishing figures is enormous. In several regions abortion is a public health problem because of its illegality. Thus, abortion complications must be treated on a daily basis by numerous service providers throughout the world. Additionally, testimonies illustrate that women who arrive at a health facility with an incomplete abortion or with abortion complications often face discrimination or are mistreated.

This presentation will highlight and discuss the rights of women in post-abortion care services WHILE at the health facility, who is responsible for providing these services -and facilitating fulfillment of rights-, and what the possible consequences are for failing to provide post abortion care within this rights framework.

The specific rights involved in post-abortion care are: -the right to the protection of health; -the right not to be discriminated against; -the right to information; -the right to freedom and bodily integrity; -the right to privacy; -the right to the benefits of scientific progress, and -the right to the means to obtain justice if women are submitted to practices that harm their human rights.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Postabortion Care: Meeting Clients' Needs

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA