Koudougou: The Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Burkina (SOGOB) has initiated a strategic training program to educate health professionals about the legal provisions governing safe termination of pregnancy in Burkina Faso. This effort aims to reduce the incidence of illegal abortions, which contribute significantly to maternal deaths in the country.
According to Burkina Information Agency, SOGOB has organized a three-day workshop in Koudougou, gathering forty members from the Order of Physicians, the Order of Nurses, the Order of Midwives, and the Burkinabe Association of Midwives. Participants hail from the regions of Yaadga (formerly North), Kuilse (formerly Centre-North), and Liptako (formerly Sahel). The workshop’s primary objective is to clarify and transform the values and attitudes of these professionals towards safe termination of pregnancy (STP), which is legally permitted under specific conditions in Burkina Faso.
Despite the existence of a law authorizing safe termination of pregnancy in cases of incest, rape, endangerment to the mother’s life, and incurable fetal malformation, unsafe abortions remain the fourth leading cause of maternal death in Burkina Faso. This alarming statistic is attributed to a lack of awareness among healthcare providers and the public about the legal provisions, leading eligible women to opt for clandestine abortions that jeopardize their health and lives.
To tackle this issue, SOGOB, in collaboration with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has launched a series of awareness workshops. The session at Koudougou follows similar initiatives held in Ziniare, Banfora, and Tenkodogo.
Professor Dantola Paul Kain, an obstetrician-gynecologist and focal point of the ISG/SL project, emphasized that the workshop’s goal is to disseminate the legal provisions to professional bodies and health associations. He reiterated that Burkinabe law permits safe termination of pregnancy in cases where the mother’s life is at risk, the fetus has an incurable malformation, or the pregnancy results from rape or incest.
Ms. Assana Traore, a magistrate and trainer, highlighted the legal framework where voluntary abortion is generally prohibited and punishable, with exceptions made to save lives and protect women. She emphasized the importance of raising awareness among victims and stakeholders in health and justice sectors to ensure women meeting the legal criteria can access safe termination of pregnancy.
This workshop is part of SOGOB’s broader approach to making safe termination of pregnancy accessible and reducing maternal mortality related to clandestine abortions. The initiative underscores the critical need to enforce existing laws that safeguard the health and rights of women and girls in Burkina Faso.