Abortions spike maternal mortality
Botswana recorded 7 035 abortion cases in health facilities in 2025, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.
The figures form part of abortion-related data covering the period from 2020 to 2025 and show that reported cases increased from 4 586 in 2020 to 7 035 in 2025, with the highest number recorded in 2024 was 7 268 cases. The data further show that January to March 2026 recorded 1 906 evacuation procedures, with 658 in January, 609 in February and 639 in March.
From April, the monthly figures declined, with 272 evacuations recorded in April, 273 in May, 247 in June and 137 in July.
In an interview with The Midweek Sun, Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Dr Christopher Nyanga said Botswana's health system does not routinely classify women presenting for care as having an 'unsafe abortion.' Instead, women presenting with abortion-related complications are diagnosed according to their clinical condition, including incomplete abortion, septic incomplete abortion and other clinically defined abortion-related conditions.
He said the available figures represent facility-reported abortion cases, rather than the true prevalence or incidence of unsafe abortion in the population.
According to Nyanga, the data show significant variations across districts. Gaborone recorded the highest number of reported abortion cases in 2025, with 2 224 cases, followed by Francistown with 1 109 cases and Ngamiland with 642 cases. He noted that Kweneng recorded 515 cases, while Boteti reported 424. Nyanga said other figures included Kgatleng with 328, Kanye with 320, Serowe with 305, Tutume with 214 and Chobe with 195 cases.
'Overall, the country recorded 4 586 cases in 2020, 5 471 in 2021, 6 839 in 2022, 6 946 in 2023, 7 268 in 2024 and 7 035 in 2025,' said Nyanga. Nyanga shared that there are currently no routinely reported national statistics specifically quantifying unsafe abortion or the number of women admitted to public health facilities because of complications specifically attributed to unsafe abortion.
However, Nyanga warned that abortions performed under unsafe conditions can result in serious and life-threatening complications.
'These include severe haemorrhage, infection and sepsis, uterine or cervical injuries, incomplete abortion and reproductive tract infections. In severe cases, complications may result in infertility or sub fertility, while women may also experience psychological and emotional consequences linked to stigma, fear and trauma,' he said.
Nyanga shared that despite the absence of data specifically attributing maternal deaths to unsafe abortion, abortion remains an important contributor to maternal mortality in Botswana. He explained that National mortality data from Statistics Botswana for 2023 showed that unspecified abortion accounted for 13.6 per cent of maternal deaths, making it the third leading reported cause of maternal death that year. He also shared that the ministry identified several factors that may contribute to women and girls seeking unsafe abortion. These include unwanted pregnancies, limited knowledge of Botswana's legal provisions on abortion, concerns about confidentiality, economic and social circumstances, partner or family pressure and pregnancies resulting from sexual and gender-based violence.
'Adolescents and young women may face particular challenges, including fear of disclosure to parents or guardians, concerns about confidentiality, negative attitudes towards adolescent sexual activity and limited access to youth-friendly reproductive health services.' Nyanga pointed out that the ministry continues to strengthen family planning, comprehensive abortion care, post-abortion care, healthcare provider capacity and quality of services as part of efforts to prevent unintended pregnancies and improve health outcomes. He urged women and girls to seek accurate information and counselling from qualified healthcare providers and encouraged those experiencing complications following an abortion to seek urgent medical attention.
'No woman or girl should delay seeking care because of stigma, fear or concerns about confidentiality,' Nyanga said, stressing the importance of confidential, respectful and non-judgmental care.