Abortion in Burkina Faso: incidence and complications

Idrissa Kabore, Institut Superieur des Sciences de la Population (ISSP)
Clementine Rossier, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Gilda Sedgh, Guttmacher Institute
Akinrinola Bankole, Guttmacher Institute

Because abortion law is highly restrictive in Burkina Faso, it is difficult to ascertain the incidence of abortion and its consequences. We will present findings on the incidence, causes and consequences of abortion in Burkina Faso, and the conditions under which women obtain abortions. We will employ two estimation methods: the Health Facility Complications Method, which has been applied by a co-investigator in other countries, and the Anonymous Third Party Reporting method, which was developed and employed by another co-investigator in Ouagadougou in 2002. We will compare findings from the two approaches and develop robust estimates of the incidence of abortion and consequences. We will also discuss policy and program implications of our findings. We expect to find that the incidence of abortion and related complications is moderate in the country and high in urbanized regions, and that few women who experience complications are treated for them.