Unsafe abortion remains one of the most neglected sexual and reproductive health problems according to the World Health Organisation. In recent years it has been estimated that nearly 44 million abortions occur annually leading to around 47,000 deaths. At this rate a woman will die of an unsafe abortion every 11 minutes. Bringing together a wealth of information from around the world, this book argues that the time has come for a great change in legislation, advocating a shift towards the legalization of abortion to improve the health of women in poorer countries. With attention to circumstances in each of the major continental regions, an outline of the global situation is provided to reveal the major trends in the provision and procurement of abortion, as well their effects. Presenting data drawn from over a hundred countries covering over ninety per cent of the world's population, based on published statistical information, changes to legal frameworks, court cases and the accounts of local commentators and activists, Unsafe Abortion and Women's Health will be of interest to scholars and students of the sociology of medicine, gender and reproductive health, social and health policy and feminist studies.

Recent years have revealed the different experiences of abortion in the UK and the USA. The United States has a higher abortion rate accompanied by a higher political profile for the issue. In fact, one of George W. Bush's first acts in 2001 was to ban American funding for overseas organizations carrying out abortions. The USA has also experienced a higher degree of abortion-related violence, with several people linked to abortion services being targeted and even killed. Compelling and enlightening in its approach, this invigorating volume compares the two countries' abortion laws and outlines the distinctions. The usually conservative American society has a much more liberal abortion law than the United Kingdom, whose female citizens can obtain an abortion relatively easily although in fact they do not have the right to choose. This stimulating volume examines the comparative positions taken by each country and makes important suggestions for the future.

Recent years have revealed the different experiences of abortion in the UK and the USA. The United States has a higher abortion rate accompanied by a higher political profile for the issue. In fact, one of George W. Bush's first acts in 2001 was to ban American funding for overseas organizations carrying out abortions. The USA has also experienced a higher degree of abortion-related violence, with several people linked to abortion services being targeted and even killed. Compelling and enlightening in its approach, this invigorating volume compares the two countries' abortion laws and outlines the distinctions. The usually conservative American society has a much more liberal abortion law than the United Kingdom, whose female citizens can obtain an abortion relatively easily although in fact they do not have the right to choose. This stimulating volume examines the comparative positions taken by each country and makes important suggestions for the future.

Unsafe abortion remains one of the most neglected sexual and reproductive health problems according to the World Health Organisation. In recent years it has been estimated that nearly 44 million abortions occur annually leading to around 47,000 deaths. At this rate a woman will die of an unsafe abortion every 11 minutes. Bringing together a wealth of information from around the world, this book argues that the time has come for a great change in legislation, advocating a shift towards the legalization of abortion to improve the health of women in poorer countries. With attention to circumstances in each of the major continental regions, an outline of the global situation is provided to reveal the major trends in the provision and procurement of abortion, as well their effects. Presenting data drawn from over a hundred countries covering over ninety per cent of the world's population, based on published statistical information, changes to legal frameworks, court cases and the accounts of local commentators and activists, Unsafe Abortion and Women's Health will be of interest to scholars and students of the sociology of medicine, gender and reproductive health, social and health policy and feminist studies.

Nine out of ten infant deaths occur unnecessarily. India has a rate of imprisonment of only one twentieth of the USA. Nevertheless it manages to have a lower homicide rate. In 2010 Honduras had proprtionately one thousand five hundred times as many deaths from firearms compared to the UK and Norway. If men had the same incarceration rate as women then over nine out of ten prisons could close. In 2010 Chad had a maternal mortality rate, which has over a hundred times that of France and Australia. Worldwide two in five adults are overweight and yet 13% are undernourished. Due to pollution more than five million pieces of plastic, collectively weighing nearly 269,000 tonnes are floating in the world's oceans damaging the food chain. About 12 billion bullets are produced every year, which is almost enough to kill every person on the planet twice. Worldwide two thirds of illiterate adults are women. Unsafe abortion led to 47,000 deaths in 2008. These were nearly all in the poor countries.

Nine out of ten infant deaths occur unnecessarily. India has a rate of imprisonment of only one twentieth of the USA. Nevertheless it manages to have a lower homicide rate. In 2010 Honduras had proprtionately one thousand five hundred times as many deaths from firearms compared to the UK and Norway. If men had the same incarceration rate as women then over nine out of ten prisons could close. In 2010 Chad had a maternal mortality rate, which has over a hundred times that of France and Australia. Worldwide two in five adults are overweight and yet 13% are undernourished. Due to pollution more than five million pieces of plastic, collectively weighing nearly 269,000 tonnes are floating in the world's oceans damaging the food chain. About 12 billion bullets are produced every year, which is almost enough to kill every person on the planet twice. Worldwide two thirds of illiterate adults are women. Unsafe abortion led to 47,000 deaths in 2008. These were nearly all in the poor countries.