A research shows that the more than one in 10 maternal deaths in Ghana are the result of unsafe abortions.

The research by the New York based non-profit organization Guttmacher Institute titled Abortion in Ghana states that many women in the country rely on unsafe providers or do not get adequate post-abortion care when it is needed.

The research in the possession of 1Africa highlights the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) that shows that 7% of all pregnancies in the country end in abortions. The GMHS reveals that about 15 abortions are performed for every 1, 000 women of reproductive age between the 14 and 44 each year.

It is difficult for surveyors and researchers to get on-the-spot figures as many women do not wish to report having an abortion, so at times surveys may underestimate abortions in the country.

But the report states that while underreporting might compromise the accuracy of the report there is “clear evidence that 37% of births in the country are unplanned, 23% are mistimed, and 14% are unwanted.

The abortion rate is said to be higher among educated and wealthy women than those with no education and those who are poor. The rate is twice as high in urban areas as in rural areas.

There are numerous reasons why women in Uganda are opting for abortions, as 21% have said it is not having enough money to look after the child, 13% want to delay childbearing, 11% because they want to continue schooling and another 9% want to continue working.

Six percent of women said their partner did not want the child or denied responsibility for the pregnancy. Health reasons for terminating the pregnancy were cited by about 5% of the women.

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