Recent study in Chile shows that legalizing abortion does not reduce maternal deaths.

A recent study published in Plos One[1] Journal presenting the results found by DR. Koch (Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción) show the factors related with the reduction of maternal mortality in Chile from 1957 to 2007. Data shows that maternal deaths in this country have fallen 93.9% during the above mentioned period of 50 years, derived from mothers with an improved educational level, as well as an improvement of health services in Chile.

Likewise this study reports that reduction of maternal deaths has no direct relation to legalizing abortion, on the contrary, it concludes that since 1989 (the year when abortion was prohibited in all its forms) it dropped from 41.3 to 12.7 per 100,000 live births, indicating a percentage of 69.2%.

Once again, as it has been shown by data from Ireland, Poland, Malta and now Chile, that maternal mortality has no relation with penalizing or not abortion, instead to women´s educational level, health services and medical attention during pregnancy, labor and puerperium (the 40 days that follow labor).

References:

[1] Koch E, Thorp J, Bravo M, Gatica S, Romero CX, et al. (2012) Women's Education Level, Maternal Health Facilities, Abortion Legislation and Maternal Deaths: A Natural Experiment in Chile from 1957 to 2007. PLoS ONE 7(5): e36613.