Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic, with Marie Stopes International expecting 900,000 unintended pregnancies worldwide as a result, along with 1.5 million unsafe abortions and more than 3,000 maternal deaths.
A pedestrian walks past a sign pasted on a sidewalk in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. NEW DELHI -- Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now the first widespread measure of the toll says India with its abrupt, months-long lockdown has been hit especially hard.
Lockdowns, travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions, the massive shift of health resources to combat COVID-19 and fear of infection continue to prevent many women and girls from care. Like others, Moreka predicts a coming baby boom. "The pandemic ... has taken us many years backwards" in family planning services, she said.
India listed abortions as essential services under lockdown but many weren't aware, said Shinde, who is part of the India Safe Abortion Youth Advocates organization. No one expected the lockdown to continue for months, Dalvie said. Now many women face second-trimester abortions, which are more expensive and complicated, especially "because everyone who is involved needs to wear PPE."
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