Contribution of obstetrics and gynecology societies in South America to the prevention of unsafe abortion in the region.

Unsafe abortion is one of the most serious public health and human rights issues in South America. Rates are among the highest in the world and account for 13% of maternal deaths. Nine out of 10 South American countries have enrolled in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and its Consequences. Each individual society of obstetrics and gynecology prepared a situational analysis, and an action plan was elaborated with the participation of their respective Ministries of Health, national and international agencies, and other collaborating institutions. Action plans were designed to respond to the problems identified in the situational analyses, with objectives corresponding with all or some of the 4 levels of prevention proposed in the FIGO initiative. This article reports the progress achieved in implementing the action proposed by each country, as well as some activities carried out in addition to those included in the formal plans.