[1] In Burkina Faso, any abortion performed under other conditions subjects the person who performs the procedure subject to one to five years imprisonment and imposition of a fine of 300,000 to 1,500,000 CFA francs.
[2] In the early 1990s, at least 5% of women admitted into healthcare facilities for maternal health concerns had life-threatening complications from unsafe abortions, and 70% of these women were between 16 and 24 years of age.
[2] During the same time period, 35% of women who sought medical treatment for infertility had previously been recipients of an illegal abortion.
[2] The inability to receive treatment for abortion complications can have severe repercussions, as abortion complications contribute 10-18% of maternal mortality, which at 330 per 100,000 births remains well above SDG 2030 goals.
Women’s abortion experiences are considerably shaped by structural inequities related to gender and wealth.