Goto main content

“Women with disabilities are thirty times more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy”

Prevention Rights
International

Every day, 1,600 women and more than 10,000 infants around the world die from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. On 28 May, International Day of Action for Women's Health, HI is highlighting the need to inform and warn about health risks and to help all women access appropriate healthcare. 

Health centre for mother and child in Bumbu, in DRC

Health centre for mother and child in Bumbu, in DRC | © Kristof Vadino / HI

Women exposed to multiple risks

Around 14 million teenage girls become mothers every year, and young women with disabilities are 30 times more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy. In addition, every day, 1,600 women and more than 10,000 infants around the world die from complications during pregnancy or childbirth[1], mainly in developing countries. “However, 70% of complications can be prevented. Information, prevention and providing access to quality health care for all women, including women with disabilities, are therefore a priority,” explains Rafik Bedoui, HI’s mother and child health expert.

Better health for more than 125,000 mothers and children

HI aims at improving the health conditions of mothers and children in fifteen or so countries, including DRC, Mali, Kenya and Cambodia. In 2017, the organisation provided 125,230 mothers and children with support.

Information, prevention and access to quality healthcare

  • HI informs and warns young women about the risks they face and how to prevent them: “For example, in the DRC, we go to villages and explain to women that it’s better to space their pregnancies, and that they should consult a doctor if they have bleeding or pain. We also organize 'clubs' for women, where they can express themselves and ask their questions about sexuality," adds Rafik Bedoui.
  • HI also ensures that women can reach a health centre easily despite their disability, that care is free or affordable, and that they can get the medical help they need. 
  • In addition, HI aims at improving the quality of care provided and offers advice to health personnel: “Medical equipment must be good quality, and doctors should be able to help women who are deaf or have cerebral palsy. Information is important too: for example, you can use pictograms to display clinic opening times so that everyone understands them. People also need follow-up care adapted to their needs,” adds Rafik Bedoui.

 

Where your
support
helps

PRESS CONTACT

CANADA

Fatou Thiam

USA

Mica BEVINGTON

 

Help them
concretely

To go further

“We sleep in the car as it seem the safest place so far”
© T. Nicholson / HI
Emergency

“We sleep in the car as it seem the safest place so far”

Elyas (Not his real name) is member of HI team in northwest Syria. He and his family have experienced the earthquake. They are safe but still under shock.

 Increase of use of landmines driven by Russia, Myanmar and non-state armed groups Explosive weapons

Increase of use of landmines driven by Russia, Myanmar and non-state armed groups

The Landmine Monitor 2022 reports a high number of casualties caused by landmines - including improvised mines and explosive remnants of war - for the seventh year in a row. The Monitor recorded 5,544 casualties in 2021. 75% of them were civilians. This high figure is mainly the result of increased armed conflicts and contamination with improvised mines since 2015. The use of landmines by the Russian and Myanmar armies, as well as by non-state armed groups in five countries, are the main factors of a sharp global increase of the use of these weapons in 2022.

States will gather in Geneva from November 21th to 25th for the 20th annual Mine Ban Treaty conference. As we celebrate the 25 years of the Ottawa Treaty, HI urges States to pressure parties to conflict to end the use of these barbaric weapons and to support the funding of victims assistance that is shrinking despite growing needs and high casualty rates in recent years.

Read the full report.

80 States have made history by endorsing the international agreement against bombing on towns and cities
© G. Lordet / HI
Explosive weapons

80 States have made history by endorsing the international agreement against bombing on towns and cities

Acknowledging the devastating humanitarian consequences of bombing and shelling of towns and cities, 80 States adopted an international agreement to better protect civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, at the Dublin Conference on November 18, 2022.