Background
Of the 44 million abortions that took place globally in 2008 nearly half were considered Of the 44 million abortions that took place globally in 2008 nearly half were considered unsafe [1], undertaken either by individuals without the necessary skills to perform the procedure, or were self-induced [2]. Forty percent of women seeking induced abortion live in countries where it is legally restricted. But even where induced abortion is legal, access to such services is often poor [3]. Most unsafe abortions occur in developing countries, in settings where standards of care are often poorer and legal restrictions are greater [2-4]. Every year an estimated 47,000 women die and five million women are hospitalized due to complications from unsafe abortions [2,3].