Latin America

Two young girls, pregnant, terrified, and unable to have an abortion, chose to induce abortion on their own in the city of Pamplona, a traditional Roman Catholic town in Columbia where abortion is illegal. Thinking their pregnancy could easily be terminated, they bought a cheap ulcer medication. Instead of losing the baby, they began bleeding excessively and were rushed to a local emergency room. Immediately following treatment, they were arrested.

Marianne Mollman, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, which supports efforts to decriminalize abortion in Latin America. "I think it's the end of the realization that the criminalization of abortion doesn't lead to less abortion, but that it leads to a lot of preventable problems."

Ten Facts:

1. More than four million women in Latin American countries have undergone illegal abortions. Because abortions are illegal in Latin America, they are often performed in dangerous conditions that cause serious health problems to women.

2. In Nicaragua, the cancer rate is the second highest in all of Latin America, while in Latin America overall, cervical cancer is one of the highest rates in the world. 


3. In Nicaragua, 27% of female girls are pregnant or have already given birth. This is two times the regional average of Latin America. 


4. In a 2004 census, the death rate of pregnant mothers during birth was some of the highest rates in all of the Americas. 82 % of those deaths were due to health service inefficiencies.

5. 30% of the women who died during birth were women under 19 years old due to illegal abortions. 


6. 45% of admissions at a maternity hospital in Nicaragua were women who got
abortions illegally.



7. Nicaraguan Roman Catholic Church has denounced contraception.



8. 38% of Nicaraguan women are sexually active by age sixteen, 73% are sexually active by age
nineteen.

9. An estimated 10–20% of all women having abortions need but do not receive medical care for serious complications.

10. Women in these countries cite fear of legal consequences, social stigma, high

cost and lack of access to trained health professionals as the major barriers to obtaining safe abortions.

Organization working for change: FSD (foundation for sustainable development)
in Nicaragua focuses on:

- The support of women running in elections, and women being nominated to
office.

- Assist women’s health clinic to focus on reproductive health

- Aid the staff at health clinics to focus on vaccinations, malnutrition, and
hydration.


- Provide psychological help through counseling for overcoming addiction and
family violence.


- Awareness about equal rights for both sexes and to encourage women to have
more positive roles in the community.

Websites we like:

http://www.fsdinternational.org/country/nicaragua/weissues



http://countrystudies.us/nicaragua/29.htm