Each year, one in four pregnancies end in an abortion, global estimates from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Guttmacher Institute suggest. 

According to the report, 56 million induced abortions take place on an annual basis, a figure much higher than previously estimated. 

Although rates of abortion have improved in many rich countries over recent years, there has been no change in poorer areas over the past 15 years.

Najbin Akter works at Khulna Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh as part of FIGO’s post-partum intrauterine device (PPIUD) initiative. She joined the project in February 2016 and has since counselled hundreds of women about the importance of post-partum family planning.

An important dimension for improving the reproductive health and choice of women and girls is the fact that women should be empowered to understand and exercise their rights, voluntarily choosing their family planning methods, free of any coercion or violence. Helping women achieve agency and autonomy is essential to ensuring this. This can help them ensure other women do so when taking part in future family planning initiatives.