Safer abortions in Zambia
In Africa south of the Sahara, there’s another significant threat to women — pregnancy. The risk of a woman dying during pregnancy or childbirth is about 50 times higher there than it is in the United States. Ending a pregnancy can also be deadly. Many African women attempt abortions themselves or seek the help of untrained practitioners. Some doctors and midwives in the southern African nation of Zambia are working to prevent maternal deaths by providing safe abortions. Reporter Rose Hoban of North Carolina Public Radio spent time at a hospital in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
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