GULU
Learners, especially teenage girls, are emerging as the biggest contributors to the increasing number of abortion cases recorded at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, a new report from the facility has revealed.
Data from the hospital’s Gynecology Department shows that more than 200 abortion cases have been handled in the last five months, translating into an average of about 40 cases every month.
The cases mainly involve girls aged between 16 and 20 years, many of whom are in primary and secondary schools within the Acholi sub-region.
Grace Lanyero, the officer in charge of the Gynecology Ward at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, said the facility often records a surge in abortion cases when learners return to school after holidays.
“Most of these cases involve young girls. During school holidays, some parents do not closely monitor their children, which contributes to unplanned pregnancies,” Lanyero told journalists last week.
She urged parents and guardians to strengthen communication and supervision of children, especially during holiday periods.
Uganda’s law prohibits abortion except in limited circumstances, including where a licensed medical practitioner determines that the procedure is necessary to save a woman’s life.
Health experts have raised concern that restrictions and limited access to reproductive health services have pushed some women and girls into unsafe abortion practices, including self-induced procedures.
Globally, abortion remains a major public health issue. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 73 million induced abortions occur worldwide each year, with around 45% classified as unsafe. Unsafe abortions are linked to preventable complications and maternal deaths, particularly in low-income countries.
The WHO also estimates that millions of women in developing countries require treatment every year due to complications arising from unsafe abortion.
In Uganda, unsafe abortion contributes to maternal health challenges. Health officials say many cases remain undocumented because some women seek help from informal providers or present at health facilities only after developing complications.
Medical workers say preventing unintended pregnancies through access to information, family planning services and support for adolescents remains critical in reducing unsafe abortion cases.
