Abortion in Sierra Leone was made illegal by the Offences against the Persons Act of 1861. According to Sections 58 and 59 of this act, which was adopted from the English law and domesticated through another law that made all statues of general application in England before January 1, 1880 applicable in Sierra Leone, “it is unlawful for any ‘woman being with child’ with intent to procure her own miscarriage to unlawfully administer to herself any poison, using any instrument or other noxious thing”. There are heavy penalties for anyone who procures or abets another in the termination of a pregnancy. In light of limited exceptions to this strict law, there have been ongoing but challenging efforts in Sierra Leone, towards the review of the current abortion laws.i
Abortion in Sierra Leone is legal only in cases in cases where a woman or girls life is at risk. However, in practice safe abortions services are rarely provided in nearly all circumstances. The prevailing multiple restrictions on abortion means that many of those women and girls who might qualify for a legal abortion are unable access a healthcare provider who is willing to provide one.ii
A few NGOs and hospitals with trained personnel perform post- abortion care after a woman has had a miscarriage or an unsafe abortion.iii
Sierra Leone provides restricted medical (MA) as well as surgical abortion services.
Note:
Medication abortion (MA) is permitted for gestational age 5–9 weeks (and up to 12 weeks under certain circumstances) and Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) for 5–12 weeks and up to 15 weeks under certain circumstances).
In Sierra Leone a legal abortion can be performed by any trained medical worker at a licensed government or private hospital.
Safe and legal abortions and post abortion care services are provided at registered public and private health facilities and at certain NGO supported clinics in accordance with the abortion law.
Pharmacists can also provide abortion pills with a written prescription from a doctor.
The average cost of a medical abortion is between Le 70,000 -Le 150,000.
There are two types of abortion pills available in Sierra Leone
Misoprostol (Cytotec) and/or the combination of Misoprostol and Mifepristone (Medabon) can be found in some pharmacies in Sierra Leone, but can only be dispensed with an accompanying prescription.
The most common brand name for abortion pills in Sierra Leone is MISOFEM. This is what the MISOFEM abortion pill looks like:
This is what the MM COMBI KIT abortion pill looks like:
This is what the MARIPRIST COMBI PACK abortion pill looks like:
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