U.S. Ban On Contraceptives To Marie Stopes Clinics In Africa Will Lead To More Deaths, Abortions, Opinion Piece Says

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Abortion
Article Date: 10 Oct 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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The recent announcement by the Bush administration that U.S.-financed contraceptive supplies no longer can be distributed by six African countries through the British aid organization Marie Stopes International is the "latest bout of reproductive health madness," according to New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. He argues that the policy decision by USAID has created the "paradox of a 'pro-life' administration adopting a policy" that will result in "tens of thousands of additional abortions each year -- along with more women dying in childbirth."

According to Kristof, the Bush administration cut off the contraceptives to Marie Stopes because of the group's work with the United Nations Population Fund in China. Although China's one-child policy sometimes includes forced abortions, UNFPA has been the "most powerful force in moderating China's policy, and a State Department team itself found no evidence of any U.N. involvement in the coercion."

Proponents of the Bush administration's policy are "not misogynists" and are "honestly outraged by forced abortions in China," Kristof writes, adding, "But why take it out on the most impoverished and voiceless people on Earth?" Dana Hovig, CEO of Marie Stopes, said that the decision to cut off contraceptives to the group "will result in deaths to women who just want to space their births," and that at least 157,000 additional unintended pregnancies will occur annually, with 660 women dying in childbirth and 62,000 additional pregnancies ending in abortion. Kent Hill, an official with USAID, said there will not be an increase in pregnancies as a result of the cut to Marie Stopes because contraceptives will be routed to other aid groups in Africa.

This program "will work to some degree in big cities," Kristof writes, "But it's a fantasy in rural Africa" because in many rural areas, the Marie Stopes clinics are the only source of family planning, Kristof writes. Women in certain parts of Africa now have a one-in-10 risk of dying in childbirth, Kristof writes, concluding, "The idea that U.S. policy may increase that toll is infuriating" (Kristof, New York Times, 10/9).

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