Situation Analysis: Despite the fact that abortion is illegal in Pakistan, there is a high incidence of unwanted pregnancies as a result of inadequate access to contraceptive services. Various studies by FPAP and others (e.g. Future Group International and Dow Medical College) have shown that much of the abortion related knowledge and services are grossly inadequate, potentially harmful and highly dangerous in the studied samples.

A sizeable amount of post abortion therapeutic care is provided in government hospitals. These hospitals render services from tertiary urban hospitals down to the district level. On an average each hospital handles 50-150 cases a month.

While FPAP does not recognize abortion as a contraceptive method, it carries out a vigorous campaign for minimizing the incidence of unsafe abortion involving advocacy among decision makers; dissemination of information regarding complications of unsafe abortion; provision of expanded family planning services including emergency contraception and a strong promotional campaign in support of responsible parenthood.

Key Challenges:

• Unsafe abortion is a public health issue and remains a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality that disproportionately affects adolescent, poor and other socially vulnerable groups of women.
• Abortion-related services require quality of care and capacity building of service providers.

Strategic Direction: FPAP will work towards minimizing the incidence of unsafe abortion by highlighting the impact of unsafe abortion and increasing access to pre and post abortion care.

Goal: A universal recognition of a woman’s right to choose and have access to safe abortion, and a reduction in the incidence of unsafe abortion.

Objectives:

• To advocate with media and opinion leaders for reduction in incidence of unsafe abortion.
• To strength post abortion care services and increase access of women to these services.

Activities to Achieve Objective 1 - To advocate with media and opinion leaders for reduction in incidence of unsafe abortion.

• Gather data on the causes, prevalence and effects of unsafe abortion;
• Hold meetings/workshops with opinion leaders and the media
• Develop strategic partnerships and collaborations with key partners e.g. media, health professionals. NGOs, women’s organisations to generate a network of sympathetic opinion leaders on the health and social justice impact of unsafe abortion.

Activities to Achieve Objective 2: To strength post abortion care services and increase access of women to these services.

• Prepare training modules on pre and post abortion management and counseling;
• Develop and conduct training programmes for medical and paramedical staff in post abortion management services and counseling;
• Provide pre and post abortion care through the service delivery outlets;
• Provide accessible, affordable and quality contraceptive services including emergency contraception to underserved and marginalized women;
• Develop technical and managerial capacity of the staff and volunteers for improved services regarding the avoidance of unsafe abortion;
• Mobilise resources for improved services regarding the avoidance of unsafe abortion.  

Outcomes and Indicators: