Every year, 7 million women in the developing world are treated for complications from unsafe pregnancy termination. These complications can include heavy bleeding, infection and sepsis, as well as more severe conditions, such as lacerations or uterine perforation, that can put a womans life at risk.

Unsafe abortions account for between 8 and 15 percent of maternal deaths in developing countries , making them one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, according to a new report.

Its a big health issue for women in most countries in the developing world, said Susheela Singh, vice president for research at the Guttmacher Institute and the lead author of the report, which was just published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.