Source: Times of Zambia
Government, through its Reproductive Health Policy, has advised that reproduction health needs should be addressed in an integrated manner rather than in parallel compartments because reproductive ill-health results from complications.

Some of the complications come from pregnancy, unsafe abortion, reproductive tract infections, cancer, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS, infertility, and violence against women.

Concerned with the alarming maternal mortality ratios, Zambia in tandem with other countries launched the Safe Motherhood Initiative in 1996 in a bid to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality.

However, unsafe abortion remains a challenge in the country despite an abortion law that is considered favourable and a liberal continental policy framework to which Zambia has subscribed.

Unsafe is not only a public health issue but also an economic cost to the country.

According to the Ministry of Health standards and guidelines for reducing unsafe abortion mobidity and mortality in Zambia, with a maternal mortality of 591 per 100, 000 live births, it is estimated that up to 30 per cent of the deaths could be as a result of unsafe abortion.

The ministry also estimates that about 23 per cent of incomplete abortions are among women below 20 years, while 25 per cent of maternal deaths due to induced abortion are among girls under the age of 18.

Hospital-based studies show that 50 per cent of acute gynaecological admissions are currently as a result of abortion complications.

So what are some of the economic costs of unsafe abortion, according to the United Nations World Health Organisation technical and policy guidance for health systems on safe abortion, the cost to health systems of treating complications of unsafe abortion is overwhelming especially in developing countries.

The overall average cost per case that Governments incur is estimated at US$ 114 for African countries.

The economic cost of unsafe abortion to a country's health systems, however, goes beyond the direct cost of providing post abortion services.

A recent health study estimated that an annual cost of US$23 million for treating minor complications from unsafe abortion at primary health care level; $6 billion for treating post abortion infertility.

And $200 billion each for out of pocket expenses of individuals and household in sub-Saharan Africa for treatment of post-abortion complications.

In addition, $930 million is the estimated annual expenditure by individual and their societies for loss of income from death or long disability due to chronic health consequences of unsafe abortion.

• Zambia