Around 121 million pregnancies that occur every year worldwide are unintended and over 60% of these end in abortion, a major new report has revealed.

The report, Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy, was released by UNFPA, the United Nations’ sexual and reproductive health agency.

It shows that almost half of all pregnancies that occur annually - 121 million – are unintended, with 60% of these ending in abortion. However, an estimated 45% of  all abortions globally are unsafe, causing serious health consequences for some and 5-13% of all maternal deaths.

Furthermore, the war in Ukraine and other conflicts and crises around the world are expected to lead to an increase in unintended pregnancies due to a disruption in access to contraception and an increase in sexual violence.

Some studies have shown that over 20% of refugee women and girls will face sexual violence. In Afghanistan alone, war and disruptions to health systems are expected to lead to an estimated 4.8 million unintended pregnancies by 2025.

The report highlights a range of key factors that can lead to unintended pregnancies including:

-Lack of sexual and reproductive healthcare and information

-Sexual violence and reproductive coercion

-Poverty

-Gender inequality

-Contraception options that do not suit women’s bodies or circumstances

-Judgmental attitudes or shaming in health services.

“This report shows that unintended pregnancy is a global crisis with life-altering consequences for women and girls. In Ireland, we see every day the positive impacts of a holistic approach to unintended pregnancy.

“The ability to access accurate information about sexual and reproductive health, the availability of State-funded abortion care and universal free contraception, beginning this year with 17-25 year-olds, are all essential to gender equality, reproductive choice and bodily autonomy," said Caitríona Henchion, medical director of the Irish Family Planning Association, which hosted the Irish launch of the report.

Presenting the report, Jacqueline Mahon of UNFPA noted that it is calling for “a collective change in mindset to see the unseen, to acknowledge the unrealised value of women and girls, to ensure universal health coverage, end gender-based violence and uphold sexual and reproductive rights, especially in crisis and humanitarian contexts”.

The report is calling on decision-makers and health systems to prioritise the prevention of unintended pregnancies by improving the accessibility, acceptability, quality and variety of contraception and greatly expanding quality sexual and reproductive health care and information.

It urges policy makers, community leaders and all individuals to empower women and girls to make affirmative decisions about sex, contraception and motherhood and to foster societies that recognise the full worth of women and girls.

The report can be viewed here.