Abortion and Postabortion Care In Uganda: A Report from Health Care Professionals and Health Facilities

Publication Date: May 2005

Publisher: Guttmacher Institute

Author(s): Fatima H. Ahmed; Florence Mirembe; Elena Prada; Rose Nalwadda

Research Area: Population and demographics

Type: Report

Abstract:

Women in Uganda today give birth to almost seven children, on average, two more children than they
would prefer. In fact, nearly 40% of all births in 2000 were unwanted or mistimed, up from 29% of births
only five years earlier. Only 23% of married women were using contraceptives in 2000, although this proportion was about five times that in 1988. Given such facts about the gap between their desired family size and their actual fertility, as well as their low likelihood of using contraceptives, it is not surprising that many women turn to abortion..