Abortion is a contraversial issue, not just in the United States but also in many other countries. I chose to do this topic for my history project because it interests me and because abortion isn't just a issue that America deals with. Many other countries face the same problems with abortion as we do. There are many different laws depending upon the country you live in.. My goal is to tell you about them. Here are some abortion statistics worldwide...

# of abortions per year: about 46 million

# of abortions per day: about 126,000

78% of abortions occur in developing countries. 22% occur in developed countries. 20 million abortions that occur each year are illegal abortions. It is estimated that the worldwide rate will soon reach one abortion per woman.

First let's start with United States abortion rates...

40 MILLION ABORTIONS SINCE 1973
4,000 each day

Abortion is legal in the U.S. at any time during the nine month pregnancy and for any reason.

In places like Russia, abortion is more common than in the United States. Many women can expect to make atleast one trip to the abortion clinic at some point in their life. This is because contraceptives are practically non-exsistant. Many women can't afford to have more than 2 kids. In the August 28, 2003 edition of The Christian Science Moniter, Fred Weir wrote "Svetlana , now elderly, had three abortions; her friend had 17." For every baby born in Russia, there are two aborted. As people debate more and more over the morality of abortion, Russia's birth rate is dropping rapidly. It is seen as a common, yet unpleasant, medical procedure (The Christian Science Moniter Magazine, August 18, 2003 edition).

"designated institution" means a State hospital or such other institution that performs abortions

"foetus" an embryo;

"medical practitioner" means a medical practitioner who is registered in terms of the Medical, Dental and Allied Professions Act as a medical practitioner

"Minister" means the Minister of Health and Child Welfare or any other Minister to whom the President may, from time to time, assign to administer an abortion.

"pregnancy" means an intra-uterine pregnancy where the foetus is alive

"superintendent" the superintendent of any designated institution;

"unlawful intercourse" means rape, incest or unlawful intercourse

(ZIMBABWE. Termination of Pregnancy Act.)

In Nigeria, if a doctor doesn't have reasonable belief that delivering the child would possibly harm the mother, then performing an abortion is illegal and he can be imprisoned for 3 years. If the woman allows the abortion to proceed, she can be imprisioned for 14 years. If the woman is delivering the child, and the doctor prevents the child from being born alive or kills the child after it it is delivered is liable to be imprisioned for life (NIGERIA. Criminal Code Act.)

NOTE: This Code is applicable only in the Southern States of Nigeria.