Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems

Abstract

Since first publication of this guidance in 2003, a considerable amount of new data have been produced and published, relating to epidemiological, clinical, service delivery, legal and human rights aspects of providing safe abortion care. Therefore, preparation for this revision of the guidance included extensive literature review and updating of recommendations related to service delivery, legal and policy issues, and the conduct of new systematic reviews and updates of outdated systematic reviews to provide the evidence for recommendations related to clinical questions prioritized by an international panel of experts. The substantial revisions in this update reflect changes in methods of abortion and related care, service delivery as it applies to the availability and use of new methods, and application of human rights for policy-making and legislation related to abortion, among other topics. Recommendations in the 2003 guidance for which there was no new evidence remain unchanged and are also included in the new edition.

Citation

World Health Organization. Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland (2012) 134 pp. ISBN 978 92 4 154843 4

Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems

Published 1 January 2012