Ethiopia’s Battle Against Misinformation on Abortion

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia—Nurse Hanna, with 47 years of experience, remembers the haunting faces of women suffering from unsafe abortions in the 1980s. After years of campaigning, abortion laws in Ethiopia were reformed in 2005, allowing more instances for abortion. Despite a significant drop in maternal mortality, anti-abortion disinformation is threatening progress. Influenced by U.S. Christian right groups, opposition to abortion is growing, aiming to reverse the law. The Coalition of Comprehensive Abortion Care was formed to combat disinformation and strengthen public support for safe abortions. Advocates face risks of stigmatization and online attacks in the heavily religious country. There is a push to decriminalize abortion completely, but it requires broader public support.