Dying to Count: Post-Abortion Care and Global Reproductive Health Politics in Senegal

In developing countries with restrictive abortion laws and where NGOs relied on US family planning aid, post-abortion care or PAC offered an apolitical approach to addressing the consequences of unsafe abortion. Dying to Count, by Siri Suh, traces how national and global population politics collide in Senegal as health workers, health officials, and NGO workers strive to demonstrate PACs effectiveness in the absence of rigorous statistical evidence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 18 June 2021
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

In the early 1990s, global health experts introduced a groundbreaking model of emergency obstetric care known as post-abortion care (PAC). This innovative approach was particularly crucial in developing countries with restrictive abortion laws, where non-governmental organizations (NGOs) heavily relied on US family planning aid. PAC offered a non-political solution to address the devastating consequences of unsafe abortion, providing essential care to women who had undergone the procedure.

In her book "Dying to Count," Siri Suh delves into the intricate interplay between national and global population politics in Senegal. Through her ethnographic study, Suh explores how health workers, health officials, and NGO workers strive to demonstrate the effectiveness of PAC in the absence of rigorous statistical evidence that the intervention reduces maternal mortality. She argues that pragmatically assembled PAC data convey commitments to maternal mortality reduction goals while simultaneously obscuring the frequency of unsafe abortion and the inadequate care women with complications are likely to receive if they manage to reach a hospital.

This book is particularly timely given the alarming risk of death from complications related to pregnancy, birth, or abortion faced by African women worldwide. Suh's ethnography of PAC in Senegal makes a significant contribution to studies of global health, population and development, African studies, and reproductive justice. It sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape women's health outcomes in a region with a rich cultural and historical context.

By highlighting the experiences of women who have undergone unsafe abortion and the challenges they face in accessing care, Suh's book contributes to a broader understanding of the complex factors that contribute to maternal mortality and reproductive health disparities. It underscores the importance of policies and interventions that prioritize women's rights, access to healthcare, and comprehensive reproductive health services.

In conclusion, "Dying to Count" by Siri Suh is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the critical issue of post-abortion care in developing countries. Through her ethnographic study, Suh challenges the prevailing narratives surrounding PAC and highlights the urgent need for policies and interventions that prioritize women's health and rights. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of global health, population and development, African studies, and reproductive justice, and it should be read by policymakers, healthcare professionals, and activists alike.

Weight: 468g
Dimension: 159 x 235 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978804555