The Baobab Research Program Consortium conducted a study employing the Abortion Incidence and Complications Methodology, which allowed researchers to understand the relationship between unintended pregnancy and post-abortion care rates. This report found that women residing in humanitarian camps in Uganda experience a significant rate of unintended pregnancies and induced abortions. The rate of unplanned pregnancies amounted to 73.7 per 1,000 female refugees. Furthermore, post-abortion care services that serve this population reveal poor outcomes, with at least 19% of patients experiencing life-threatening complications from induced abortions.
These findings point to the accessibility barriers of sexual and reproductive healthcare, including contraceptives for women inhabiting humanitarian camps. Efforts should be made to broaden access to contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancies and improve post-abortion care services to provide women with safe and quality treatment. This publication highlights the need for more robust programming and resource allocation towards reproductive health in humanitarian settings, especially in conditions where unwanted pregnancies ensue without accessibility to safe and reliable reproductive healthcare.
Compiled From: “Unintended pregnancy, induced abortion, and abortion-related complications among women in humanitarian settings in Uganda: Evidence Brief,” Population Council, Jan. 30, 2026.