State-run newspaper in Cuba concedes abortion’s risks to justify using abortifacient drugs

Havana, Cuba, May 19, 2008 / 16:54 pm

An article in the Cuban Communist daily “Granma” has acknowledged the dangers of surgical abortion, even those performed under what it calls “optimal” conditions, as a means of promoting the spread of contraceptives and abortifacient drugs.

The newspaper reported that “60% of women who are infertile have previously undergone at least one abortion.”  It said that even in optimal medical conditions, abortions can lead to serious problems, such as infections, bleeding, perforation of the uterus “and even the endangering of the mother’s life.”

“Abortion is a risky procedure, which is done in the blind, and can have complications even when it is performed by an expert and under the best care,” the newspaper admitted.

“Many of the disorders that these invasive techniques cause are ‘silent’ and show up over the long-term, such as inflammation that damages the reproductive system, especially the fallopian tubes,” the newspaper reported.

The Communist daily said Cuban officials were worried about the high number of abortions, “although the main objective of the family planning policies in the country is to diminish this practice which at the same time is essential, and to address the health problems it causes.”

For this reason, it continued, the government plans to improve contraceptive services and offer a greater variety of contraception, including the abortifacient drug Misoprostol, which will be made available in 96 hospitals in Cuba.

Efforts by officials thus far have not led to a decrease in the number of abortions and 80% of abortions in Cuba are drug-induced.