This paper focuses on abortion. The Division of Reproductive Health of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion states that there are approximately 46 million women in the world who undergo abortions each year, 20 million of which take place where abortion is either restricted or prohibited by law. Illegal abortion accounts for approximately 78,000 deaths each year worldwide, roughly 1 in seven pregnancy-related deaths. In some African countries, half of all pregnancy-related deaths are believed to be due to illegal abortion, but in countries where abortion is legal, such as in the United States, it accounts for less than 1%. The Division of Reproductive Health, however, prepares and submits annual Abortion Surveillance Reports only on legal abortions and only every three to four years previous.
