Sindh faces alarming rise in unsafe abortions, experts warn

Sindh faces a mounting women's health crisis, with an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 abortions taking place annually — many of them unsafe, unregulated, and life-threatening. This alarming figure, combined with widespread malnutrition and anemia, is placing countless women at risk, medical experts warn.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Mehwish Mubarak Ali, Deputy Director (Clinics Section) of the Sindh Population Welfare Department, revealed the gravity of the situation. "In terms of blood loss, a single unsafe abortion can be as dangerous as 10 full-term pregnancies," she said.

Dr Mehwish further stated that many women, especially from low-income or rural areas, resort to untrained people for abortion procedures, which often result in severe infections, infertility, or even death.

Women and girls aged 15 to 49, the reproductive age group, are increasingly facing health complications due to iron deficiency and poor nutrition, which also impact their children's development. According to recent surveys, 10-15% of women in Sindh suffer from severe anaemia or nutritional deficiencies.

"In clinics where 50 pregnant women arrive daily, five to 10 often require immediate blood transfusions due to acute anaemia," Dr Mehwish said. She explained that what was once considered a rural issue is now equally prevalent in urban areas, largely due to unhealthy diets and rising consumption of fast food.

Sindh's female population stands at 5.6 million, with nearly 40-50% facing malnutrition. In rural households, gender bias in food distribution exacerbates the issue. "Brothers are often given more nutritious food than sisters. Girls are left nutritionally deprived," she added.

Early marriages remain a pressing concern, with adolescent pregnancies putting both mother and child at risk. "Poor maternal health leads to premature births, low birth weight, and cognitive development issues in children."

Pakistan continues to report alarming maternal and infant mortality rates, with 64 out of every 1,000 newborns dying before their first birthday. Nationally, an estimated 3.6 million unplanned pregnancies occur annually, with a huge proportion ending in abortion -400,000 to 500,000 in Sindh alone.

The root causes, experts say, include a lack of awareness, birth spacing, and access to safe reproductive health services.

Dr Mehwish stressed birth spacing and adherence to international health guidelines. "The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a minimum two-year gap between births, with the first pregnancy ideally between ages 18 to 35," she said.

She also highlighted the recent introduction of Sayana Press Self-Injection in Pakistan — a three-month contraceptive injection that women can safely administer at home, offering privacy, affordability, and control over reproductive health.