Tanzania Abortion Incidence Study, 2012-2014

Unsafe abortions account for roughly 13 percent of maternal deaths worldwide. In addition, millions of women suffer nonfatal health consequences of unsafe abortion every year. Information on unsafe abortion can be instrumental in helping policy makers and program planners identify measures needed to improve maternal health. Insufficient information at the country level perpetuates the invisibility of the problem of unsafe abortion and results in governments giving it little priority in policy decisions, service delivery or program implementation. This project was the first-ever national study of the incidence of induced abortion and health consequences of unsafe abortion in Tanzania. The three-year project aimed to: Provide evidence on the incidence of induced abortion in Tanzania, at the national and regional levels and by women's place of residence and economic status Document the incidence of abortion complications Document the methods and providers used to perform abortions in Tanzania