Safe Abortion: WHO Technical and Policy Guidance

This article highlights the key features of the 2003 World Health Organization handbook Safe Abortion: Technical and Policy Guidelines for Health Systems, a non-political guide outlining practical methods for improving abortion services in countries where they are not prohibited. The authors summarize the guide recommendations, including the need for pre- and post-procedure clinical care, review and amendment of existing planning and managing services, including funding and training concerns, and the need for legal policy considerations. The authors conclude the guide is useful in encouraging providers to work within their domestic legal environment to not only provide safe abortions, but also to educate and reduce the need to resort to abortion. [Descriptors: Reproductive Rights - Abortion, International]