On January 23, 2012 at the Yerevan State University Guest House meeting room a press conference took place discussing a modern, safe, and effective method of unwanted pregnancy interruption. The speakers of the press conference were Armine Harutyunyan, an obstetrician-gynecologist, Head of the department in the Family Planning and Sexual Health Center, Ruzanna Abrahamyan, Head of the Department of Pathologic pregnancy at the Institute of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Susanna Vardanyan, Director at Women's Rights Center NGO.
Every year millions of women apply to medical abortion. According to the World Health Organization, from overall number of 210 million pregnancies worldwide about 46 million women apply to abortion and almost half of the abortions are considered insecure (they are performed either by not-qualified doctors or in non-hygienic conditions or both conditions exist). Because of these adverse circumstances there are recorded average 67,900 cases of death, especially in countries where there are few resources, scarce and confined access to health services, and very few qualified professionals performing surgical interruption of pregnancy. Thus, the method of medical abortion could be a strong potential for reducing maternal diseases and mortality number.
The investigation has shown that many women prefer medical abortion instead of surgical intervention, so that it provides maximum safety and the operation of abortion is controlled by a women. Medical abortion of unwanted pregnancy should be performed only in hospitals under obstetrician-gynecologists’ control.
Since 2007 Women’s Rights Center has been working in the filed of protection of women’s reproductive and sexual health and rights. During this period, information leaflets and appropriate literature on the topic of medical abortion have been published and distributed between women and obstetrician-gynecologists. Trainings were organized with obstetrician-gynecologists, who work in hospitals of Yerevan and regions.
