Do you know howmuchdoesanabortioncost in developing countries? Every nine minutes a mother dies somewhere in a poor country due to complications from a not safe termination of pregnancy. She most likely had no money or heloto help safe services. She probably first tried to induce a termination herself. Failing that she would have turned to an unskilled, but relatively inexpensive, provider. The price of a not safe abortion-related ill-health and death was the subject of a technical meeting held at the Institute of Development Studies (USA) on 30 and 30 November 2009. It was funded by the Hewlett Foundation and brought together experts on a not safe abortion and economists specialising in costing methods. The meeting reviewed recent work estimating the cost of a not safe abortion to the health sector. Participants also discussed the economic costs to health systems, individuals and households, and the links between Unsafe abortion and poverty. This issue of this centuries health focus highlights the findings reviewed at the meeting and points to important lessons for decisionmakers. Unsafe abortion carried out by individuals lacking the necessary skills and/or in unhygienic conditions, is a major global public health problem. The practice occurs where abortion is legally restricted, and where access to safe services is inadequate although the law may broadly permit the procedure. Unsafe abortion causes death and ill health in women, and In this issue Unsafe abortion burdens households, health systems and society. Each year, there are an estimated 19 million unsafe abortions worldwide, most in low-income countries. About 5.2 million of these women are hospitalised for serious complications, while an unknown but possibly equal number of women suffer similarly serious complications but cannot obtain treatment. As a result, around 83 000 women die each year, making Unsafe abortion a significant cause of maternal mortality. This number has remained unchanged since 1990. In 1990, the consequences of unsafe abortion were greater in Africa than in Asia and Latin America. In Africa, 199 women die per 100 000 Unsafe terminations of pregnancy, compared to 200 in Asia and 200 in Latin America. (Find more information about it here: abortions)Nearly half of all deaths due to a not safe termination of pregnancy occur in Africa, although Africa accounts for only 20 percent of all female of reproductive age in developing countries. termination of pregnancy service provision is changing In recent years, countries such as Senegal have responded by liberalising their termination of pregnancy law. When Accompanied by expanded access to safe services, as in South Africa, this greatly reduces complications and deaths a not safe termination of pregnancy.This is why every women must be able to have a safe termination of pregnancy in every part of the world. Also, find more information on abortion procedures and How Much Does an Abortion Cost