Young Girls at Serious Risk

17% of maternal deaths in Madagascar involve girls aged 15 to 19, reveals a national survey on family planning, unintended pregnancies, and complications related to abortion.

The results presented in Antananarivo show that women and adolescent girls remain vulnerable to gender-based violence and difficulties accessing reproductive health services.

Hospitals and health centers lack equipment, medication, and trained staff to manage complications related to abortions, which are still illegal in the country. Despite these challenges, healthcare professionals provide follow-up care for all women who arrive with complications, a life-saving duty emphasized by Rajoelina Miaritoky Herindrainy, Director of Family Health at the Ministry of Public Health.

According to the survey, six out of every hundred women presenting at a health center suffer from complications related to an abortion. Among unmarried women who are already sexually active, 27% cannot use their preferred family planning method. Of unintended pregnancies, 63% end in abortion, often performed in secret, which can lead to serious complications and sometimes death.

The findings highlight the urgent need for improved reproductive health services and to protect adolescent girls and women throughout the country. Healthcare professionals are calling for more training, appropriate equipment, and safe protocols for managing abortion-related complications.

The survey also underscores the importance of raising public awareness about reproductive rights and family planning. Ensuring safe and accessible medical care for all women remains a crucial challenge for reducing maternal mortality and protecting vulnerable adolescent girls.