US supreme court abortion reversal decision

Doctors and campaigners have warned that the inevitable loss of abortion as a federal right in the United States will be a “catastrophe” for women in low and middle-income nations, with an empowered anti-choice movement likely to put increased pressure on hard-won accomplishments.

The release this month of the draught majority opinion of the United States Supreme Court, which claimed that the 1973 verdict essentially legalising abortion was “egregiously incorrect from the start,” startled and infuriated many Americans.

However, the shock waves did not stop at the US border, as pro-choice leaders around the world, many of whom live in countries with restrictive abortion laws and high levels of social stigma surrounding reproductive rights, warned that Justice Samuel Alito’s words would “send a really clear message” of inspiration to anti-choice groups.

“I’m sure the pro-life or anti-choice movements in [Uganda] are hoping and praying for the Roe v Wade Act to be reversed.” If it occurs, it will undoubtedly be the most significant accomplishment of the anti-choice campaign. “I’m sure they’ll utilise it heavily to offset the effort and gains we believed we’d made,” said Kenneth Buyinza, a Kampala-based doctor.

Abortion is permitted in Uganda under certain conditions, although it is severely limited and plagued by stigma and misinformation. A 2010 ministry of health assessment linked around 8% of the country’s maternal mortality to unsafe abortion.

It is far from the only nation in Sub-Saharan Africa where there is a significant correlation between persistently high maternal death rates and unsafe abortions performed by unlicensed practitioners, sometimes in filthy circumstances and without the necessary equipment.