Community pharmacies can help women safely terminate their pregnancies although most are unaware of this service.
Thousands of women still seek illegal and dangerous backyard abortions, even though the procedure is legal in SA, said the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) this week.
The organisation focused on unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and family planning in Reproductive Health Month in February and according to Jackie Maimin, ICPA CEO, while about 50% of abortions take place illegally, community pharmacists can help women with unplanned pregnancies to access a low-cost prescription-based telemedical abortion service.
“This is a service most women are not aware of, and it is important that we raise awareness as South Africa is one of countries where women continue to die from the consequences of unsafe abortions,” she said.
She added that thousands of illegal abortions were undertaken outside regulated healthcare facilities as many women are not aware abortion is legal in this country, reports TimesLIVE.
“Women often experience incorrect referrals and long waiting periods, pushing them past gestational age limits. Community pharmacies can connect them with the telemedicine service that will provide a script to the pharmacist for medications to terminate the pregnancy before 12 weeks.
“They can also supply the morning-after pill as an emergency contraception method to avoid pregnancy, and help with post-exposure prophylaxis for those who think they may have been exposed to HIV through a sexual encounter.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Why SA women still seek risky backstreet abortions
Exodus of people qualified to perform abortion services in SA
Despite legislation, barriers to legal abortions in SA remain
Hawks arrest nurse who allegedly demanded a bribe for an abortion